- Linfield remains top on goal difference.
- Larne stay with them after going three games unbeaten
- Carrick slump to yet another defeat to remain bottom.
Into week three in the Danske Bank Premiership and two teams maintain their 100% records at the top. Linfield and the ever-impressive Larne, now sit joint at the top with only goal difference splitting them. Coleraine are right on the heels of the champions and showing they are going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Let’s hope this season finishes and we do not get the same mess we had after the last lockdown.
I will start my round-up with the game at Windsor Park, as two of the league’s unbeaten teams (after two games) played live in front of the BBC cameras on Friday evening. Linfield entertained Crusaders with the Blues running out 2-1 winners of this one. In fairness, it was a comfortable win for the Blues. Andrew Waterworth converting a penalty after Michael Ruddy got the wrong side of Conor Pepper to bring him down. The jury is still out here on Ruddy to be fair. Is he the best left-back at the club? They say it was controversial, well he got the wrong side of the player, fact!
Niall Quinn doubled the Blues’ lead in the second half before the Crues got a goal back through substitute Adam Lecky late on. A good win for the Blues against one of the teams that should be challenging them for the title this season.
Larne maintained their 100% record against a stubborn Ballymena United. It took two goals from substitute Davy McDaid to secure the win. As the games go on, Larne are starting to look like a very good team. One goal conceded in three games and they sit with three wins from three. Exciting times for the East Antrim outfit.
Three games in and only one point to show for it – Glentoran have had a terrible start to the season. On Saturday they travelled to the Coleraine showgrounds to take on Coleraine and couldn’t see off the 10 men of the Bannsiders. Captain Stephen O’Donnell gave the Bannsiders the lead, then Ben Doherty added a second. The Bannsiders were reduced to 10 men mid-way through the second half. James McLaughlin saw red for a horrible tackle. But for the second weekend running, the Glens couldn’t make the numerical advantage count.
They did get a consolation late on through Jay Donnelly, but it was too little too late. It’s worrying times at the Oval, even after three games, this team of players should be doing better than this.
Carrick Rangers remain bottom of the table with no points on the board – three games in and now three defeats. Cliftonville were the latest team to take all three points off them on Saturday. Three second-half goals from Thomas Maguire, Conor McMenamin, and Joe Gormley were enough to claim all three points for the Reds.
Warrenpoint Town held on for a draw at home to Portadown, and did so after being reduced to nine men. I think they will take the point and move onto next week. Stephen Murray put the Ports ahead before Matthew Knox got the equaliser for the Point. Then Colm Deasy got his marching orders for a second yellow, and late on in injury time Gavin Peers also saw red for a second yellow.
Last but not least, Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts played out a 0-0 draw. Swifts will probably take this as it gets them their first point of the season. But for the Lurgan Blues, they need to pick up a win – and soon. Three games in and they are still looking for their first 3 points.
Danske Bank Premiership
