Linfield restore eight-point lead as Carrick beat 10-man Glentoran

Matthew Fitzpatrick was on target in Linfield's win over Newry City

Linfield restored their eight-point lead at the top of the Irish Premiership with a 3-0 away win over Newry City.

Glentoran had Paddy McClean sent off as they suffered a 3-2 home defeat by Carrick Rangers, while Coleraine won 2-0 away to Crusaders.

Loughgall thumped Ballymena United 5-2 with Glenavon beating Dungannon 1-0.

Larne had reduced Linfield's lead to five points with a 2-1 victory over Cliftonville at Inver Park on Friday night.

Glens boss Warren Feeney was also shown a red card for complaints he made from the touchline in the closing stages of his side's loss at the Oval.

His side twice held the lead over Carrick but two former Oval strikers earned victory for the visitors, with Daniel Purkis scoring twice before substitute Curtis Allen headed home a late winner.

At Newry Showgrounds, after a dull first half on a boggy pitch which had clearly been affected by the heavy rainfall in Newry this week, Linfield came closest to opening the scoring in the closing stages of the half.

The in-form Chris McKee found himself free in the box and nodded Kirk Millar's precise free-kick delivery towards goal, with Steven Maguire in the Newry goal equal to the effort, tipping the header over the crossbar.

Linfield came out with an added attacking impetus in the second half and were rewarded on 52 minutes when Fitzpatrick broke the deadlock. The striker reacted fastest to turn the ball home on the rebound, after his initial header from Joel Cooper's free-kick had come back off the post.

David Healy's side added a second four minutes later, with Fitzpatrick turning provider for Cooper. The former Glenavon man shrugged off the challenge of Newry captain Darren King at the by-line before squaring the ball to Cooper, who swept home first time to double their advantage.

A third goal in a devastating 10-minute spell duly arrived, although it was a rather fortuitous one.

Kirk Millar's dangerous delivery was poked goal-ward by a slight touch from Fitzpatrick, with the ball squirming under Maguire after he misjudged the bounce.

McClean and Feeney sent off as Carrick beat Glens

Glentoran opened the scoring in the 13th minute in east Belfast when captain Marcus Kane nodded home Cammy Palmer's in-swinging freekick.

The Glens came close to doubling their lead just before the break when Jay Donnelly nodded on Aidan Wilson's cross, but his header crashed off the crossbar with Junior missing a glorious chance with the rebound, hitting the post from close range.

Carrick levelled on 51 minutes when Purkis evaded the defence and connected with Wilson's looping cross to fire home from close range.

Glentoran regained the lead when Daire O'Connor travelled to the edge of the box before passing to the unmarked Jay Donnelly, who headed home from six yards.

The visitors equalised for a second time when they were awarded a penalty after Paddy McClean handled the ball in the box while trying to dispossess ex-Glentoran forward Purkis as he went through on goal.

McClean had already been booked for a high foot earlier in the second half so was sent off by referee Lee Tavinder.

Purkis took the resulting spot kick and made no mistake, sending McCarey the wrong way as he found the bottom right-hand corner.

Carrick Rangers took the lead seven minutes from time when Kyle Cherry's well-timed corner was met by Allen, who timed his run across the front post to perfection to head home.

Glens manager Feeney was also sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his protests when referee Tavinder waved away his penalty appeals after Junior was brought down in the area.

More to follow.