A five-goal blast has lifted Cliftonville a step closer to the Irish League Premier Division championship. They moved six points clear with their 5-2 Solitude thrashing of Ballymena United, serious challengers not so long ago. Goal ace Barry O'Connor, the deadly Dubliner, was again the Cliftonville hero, hitting a hattrick. The other two goals came from recent signing Harry McCourt.

Another five-goal performance at Coleraine propelled Glentoran into second place, a remarkable turnaround considering that in November, then manager Tommy Cassidy was sacked because of their lowly league rating.

Even more amazing is the fact that the Cassidy replacement, veteran Roy Coyle, has worked the oracle with the same bunch of players.

Portadown, losers for the second week in succession, this time by a 2-1 margin to Crusaders at Seaview, dropped back to fourth place.