Two off as champions Larne defeat Glentoran at Oval

Larne ended a three-match winless run in the Premiership by beating Glentoran 2-0 in a game which saw two players sent off.

Andy Ryan netted a penalty to give the champions a 21st-minute lead and the Glens wasted a chance to level when Finley Thorndike sent his spot-kick over the bar.

Cian Bolger tapped in to make it 2-0 before Glens defender James Singleton and Larne's Dylan Sloan were red-carded after a melee.

Matthew Shevlin hit a hat-trick as Coleraine defeated Dungannon Swifts 4-1 while goals from Jordan Gibson, Nathaniel Ferris and Jamie Rea gave bottom side Loughgall a 3-0 win over Glenavon.

Glentoran forced the early pressure with a succession of corners, one of which saw Paddy McClean meet Thorndikeâ€TMs delivery with a powerful header which keeper Rohan Ferguson beat away.

It was the visitors, however, who went in front from their first meaningful attack. Andy Ryan played a pass in to Jordan McEneff, who was impeded just inside the penalty area by Fuad Sule and Ryan sent Daniel Gyollai the wrong way from the spot.

Glentoran passed up a glorious chance to level with a penalty of their own after Jay Donnelly intercepted a Mark Randall back-pass only to be brought down by Ferguson but Thorndike blazed over the bar from 12 yards.

Larne doubled their advantage on 69 minutes when Sean Grahamâ€TMs corner to the back post was helped back across goal and defender Bolger was on hand to poke home from close range.

There was more drama four minutes later with a double red card as Sloan reacted angrily to a poor challenge from Glentoranâ€TMs James Singleton and after a brief melee both players were dismissed by referee Evan Boyce.

Shevlin's treble helped Coleraine complete back-to-back wins for the first time season with a comprehensive win over Dungannon at the Showgrounds.

Coleraine broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time through leading goalscorer Shevlin.

Jamie Glackinâ€TMs corner was headed towards goal by Rhyss Campbell where Shevlin reacted quickest to turn and blast the ball past Declan Dunne from close range.

The Swifts drew level less than two minutes after the restart. Leo Alves swung a free-kick into the heart of the Coleraine penalty area and James Knowles escaped the attentions of the home defence to head home from six yards.

The Bannsiders restored their advantage just after the hour through a Danny Wallace own goal. Lyndon Kane made great ground up the right wing before firing a low ball across the face of the Dungannon goal.

Wallace, in attempting to clear the danger, inadvertently redirected the ball past a helpless Declan Devine and into the back of the net.

It was 3-1 four minutes later as Shevlin showed all his predatory instincts to pounce on a loose ball and rifle the ball low into the bottom corner from eight yards.

And the game was over as a contest with 20 minutes remaining as Shevlin completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Campbell had been upended by Adam Glenny inside the box.

That makes it 10 league goals now for Shevlin, whose Coleraine side close to within four points of league leaders while for Dungannon itâ€TMs now two straigh defeats.

More to follow....