An evenly contested afternoon of Sports Direct Premiership produced narrow victories for Glentoran, Coleraine and Crusaders.

Glentoran defeated Dungannon Swifts in the battle between second and third at the BetMcLean Oval.

What proved to be the only goal of a closely fought game came right at the end of normal time when the ball reached Danny Amos outside the area and, without hesitating, he unleashed an unstoppable rising first time effort beyond Declan Dunne's reach and into the top corner.

Crusaders moved into fourth spot, level on points with the Swifts, after a narrow victory over Larne at Inver Park.

Jordan Forsythe hit the only goal of the game just past the half hour mark.

Jacob Blaney sent the ball over from the right for the 33-year-old to rise highest and nod a bullet header past Rohan Ferguson into the bottom corner.

And it was similarly tight encounter at Taylors Avenue as Coleraine came away with all three points from their visit to Carrick Rangers.

Rhyss Campbell grabbed the only goal of that clash with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining after he connected with a Connor Murray corner to bundle the ball home at the far post.

Ballymena United and Linfield kicked the weekend off on Friday evening when they shared four goals at The Showgrounds.

The visitors needed just 12 minutes to seize the advantage when Matthew Fitzpatrick pounced on a weak Duncan Idehen pass before controlling the ball and sliding it beyond keeper Sean O'Neill into the bottom right corner.

Ballymena levelled on 25 minutes, however, after a counter attack saw Andy Scott do well down the left to lay the ball off for Kian Corbally with it then falling for Donal Rocks to beat Kyle McClean and slot beyond David Walsh.

That was how it stayed until United edged into the lead a couple of minutes into added time when Patrick McEleney sent Walsh the wrong way from the spot, awarded after Chris McKee had brought Scott down inside the area.

But there was a further twist 11 minutes into added time when skipper McClean lifted the ball over O'Neill from inside the area to snatch a point for the league leaders right at the death.

The action continues on Sunday when Cliftonville entertain Portadown at Solitude, kick-off 3pm.