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Linfield defeated Crusaders on the final day of 2016 just as they had on the first, to spark the Irish Premiership title race back into life.

The Blues had trailed Stephen Baxter’s side by seven points going into the fixture with the consensus of only a win would do in terms of their title ambitions, but having only triumphed once at Seaview in five years this win was a memorable one.

Aaron Burns opened the scoring ten minutes before the break with a fabulous individual goal – controlling the ball, chipping a defender, evading another before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the net.

Andrew Waterworth doubled the lead five minutes later – Crues defender Michael Gault misjudged the positioning of goalkeeper Sean O’Neill and the striker nipped in to take full advantage.

Linfield’s captain Jamie Mulgew and boss David Healy both saw red on the hour mark as tempers boiled over – Healy believed his side should have had a free-kick and he stopped the ball while still in-play, leading to an unsavoury brawl between both benches and sets of players which resulted in the reds.

Jordan Owens then headed home to give the Crues hope with seventeen minutes remaining but the Blues held on for a vital three points.

A second half double from on-fire Dungannon striker Andrew Mitchell saw the Swifts come from two goals down to rescue a point at the Oval.

(Image: Brian Little/PressEye)

Curtis Allen put the Glens ahead just before the half hour and four minutes later defender James Ferrin headed home Ciaran Caldwell’s corner but the Mitchell double ensured the side from East Belfast are now without a league win in five attempts.

Colin Nixon secured his first win as Ards manager as his side twice came from behind to defeat Ballymena United 4-2 at Clandeboye Park.

An Aaron Hogg own goal gave the Sky Blues an early lead and despite Carl McComb equalising, Johnny McMurray restored the lead for David Jeffrey’s side just before the break.

Kyle Cherry levelled again less than a minute into the second half before late goals from Emmett Friars and Gary Liggett saw the hosts secure the win to leapfrog Glentoran in the standings.

A double from striker Jamie McGonigle ended Coleraine’s five-game winless streak as they defeated struggling Carrick Rangers.

(Image: Matt Mackey/PressEye)

McGonigle struck just after the half hour mark before securing the win late on in a much-needed victory for under-pressure Bannsiders boss Oran Kearney.

On Friday night, Glenavon and Cliftonville played out an enthralling 2-2 draw in a result which did little for either side’s league ambitions.

Guy Bates and Andy McGrory put the Lurgan Blues into a commanding two-goal lead in the opening fifteen minutes before David McDaid and Stephen Garrett struck to level things at the break, but the second half saw no further goals.

Ballinamallard recorded a vital victory over Portadown at Ferney Park despite Ross Taheny’s sending off in the 32 minute.

Four minutes later, Adam Lecky struck to earn Gavin Dykes’ men a vital three points to make it two wins from three games.

Irish Premiership results:

Ards 4-2 Ballymena (McComb ’25, Cherry ’46, Friars ’78, Liggett ‘84; Hogg og ’12, McMurray ’44)

Coleraine 2-0 Carrick (McGonigle ’32, ‘89)

Crusaders 1-2 Linfield (Owens ’73; Burns ’34, Waterworth ‘39) Mulgrew sent-off for Linfield ‘60

Glentoran 2-2 Dungannon Swifts (Allen ’27, Ferrin ’31; Mitchell ’52, ‘70)

Glenavon 2-2 Cliftonville (Bates ’12, McGrory ’15; McDaid ’22, Garrett ’38)

Ballinamallard 1-0 Portadown (Lecky ’36) Taheny sent-off for Ballinamallard ‘32

Championship results:

Annagh 2-2 Warrenpoint (Judge ’35, Eagle ‘60; Forde ’16, Murray ‘70)

Armagh 0-1 PSNI

Ballyclare 5-1 Dergview (Robinson ’35, ’59, Youle ’51, McMullan ’85, Trussell ‘90; Arkinson ’72)

Institute 1-1 Larne (Rodgers og ’49; Kane ’25) Morrow sent-off for Stute ’70, Dorrian sent-off for Larne ‘4

Knockbreda 4-2 Lurgan Celtic (Johnston ’17, ’53, Halliday ’35, Cooling pen ‘68; Devlin ‘73)

Loughgall 3-0 HW Welders (Uprichard ‘49, McConnell ‘71, McMaster ‘88)

Premier Intermediate League results:

Limavady 1-0 Newry

Lisburn Distillery 1-0 Banbridge

QUB 0-1 Dundela

Moyola Park 2-0 Tobermore