Both Coleraine and Larne missed the chance to go top of the Irish Premiership table as they slipped to defeats on Saturday.

With leaders Glentoran not in action as their game against Cliftonville was postponed on Friday night, the Bannsiders knew a win would take them top, but they fell to a 2-1 loss against 10-man Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

At Stangmore Park, second-place Larne also failed to capitalise on the Glens’ inactivity, as their six-game winning run was ended by a 2-0 loss to Dungannon Swifts.

Ballymena United got back to winning ways as they came from behind to beat Carrick Rangers 2-1 at Taylors Avenue.

Portadown face managerless Glenavon at Shamrock Park at 17:30 BST.

Sky Blues fight back

Carrick should have gone in front inside six minutes when Danny Gibson stood up a cross from the right flank which was met by the head of in-rushing left-back Ryan McKay, but his effort was met with a sharp reflex save by Sean O’Neill.

Anther superb delivery from Gibson led to Carrick’s opener on 16 minutes when his cross found the head of Nedas Maciulaitis, whose initial effort came off the underside of the crossbar, but the striker was on hand to bundle home from virtually on the goal-line.

Ballymena should have levelled soon afterwards when Ryan McNickle weaved his way through onto a loose ball. He curled a low effort beyond Nathan Gartside, but it went inches wide of the post.

But the Sky Blues restored parity eight minutes before the interval when Kym Nelson stooped to nod home Calvin McCurry’s in-swinging corner.

Carrick almost regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Aidan Steele’s 25-yard strike was finger-tipped around the post by O’Neill.

Instead, it was Ballymena who moved ahead midway through the second period when Kian Corbally took a great touch to get past an opponent before rolling the ball across the face of goal for the in-rushing McNickle to slot home his first goal for the club.

More to follow.