Cliftonville and Larne closed the hole on Irish Premiership leaders Linfield as they each recorded victories on Friday night.
Larne beat Newry Metropolis 3-0 at Inver Park to maneuver to inside some extent of the table-topping Blues.
Chris Gallagher scored a shocking opener with Tomas Cosgrove and Andy Ryan additionally discovering the online.
An injury-time winner from Odhran Casey helped Cliftonville to edge previous Carrick Rangers 1-0 at Taylors Avenue.
Jim Magilton’s aspect stay third within the desk, however are actually simply 5 factors behind Linfield, who play on Saturday.
Late late present for the Reds
It was a sport of few possibilities at Taylors Avenue, with the away aspect having the primary alternative of the match when Ross Glendinning’s outstretched leg denied Rory Hale’s objective certain effort.
Their greatest likelihood to interrupt the impasse within the opening 45 minutes got here simply earlier than the break when Ronan Doherty’s in-swinging nook was headed down into the trail of Luke Turner, whose strike was blocked by Reece Glendinning earlier than the alert defender cleared the hazard.
Chris Curran did nod the clearance again into the field, however nobody in a inexperienced shirt might convert the hazard.
On 62 minutes Curran created one other objective scoring likelihood, when his move from the suitable channel discovered Ronan Hale with Albert Watson throwing himself on the ball to make an outstanding block and cease the sturdy effort.
Shea Kearney linked with the rebound, however his effort struck the submit to the frustration of the travelling followers.
Carrick continued to be resilient and practically grabbed a objective of their very own when Danny Gibson’s strike, initially saved by David Odumosu was spilled by the stopper. Nonetheless, nobody in a busy Cliftonville field might latch onto the ball.
The drama wasn’t over although as within the remaining minute of further time, the away aspect scored the one objective of the sport.
A free-kick had been awarded 25-yards out after Kyle Cherry was adjudged to have dealt with the ball.
Sean Stewart’s looping supply was nodded house on the again submit by Casey and previous the outstretched Glendinning to seal one other late away win for Cliftonville.
Routine win for Invermen
After a irritating begin, the hosts took the lead on 17 minutes by means of January arrival Gallagher’s first Larne objective.
The previous Cliftonville man latched onto a poor clearance from Barney McKeown and rifled house a half-volley from the sting of the field.
It was one for the spotlight reel that lit up an otherwise-uninspiring first half from Tiernan Lynch’s aspect.
Larne pushed for a second earlier than the break which did not come, however lower than ten minutes into the second interval, Cosgrove met a Sean Graham nook to double their benefit.
The hosts have been gifted a 3rd when Georgie Poynton needlessly pulled Cosgrove down within the field.
Ryan accepted the reward and despatched ex-Larne stopper Conor Mitchell the improper method from the spot to wrap up the three factors.
It felt as if Larne by no means actually hit high gear, however they did not must as they earned a 3rd win over Newry this season.