Red hot shot striker Liam Boyce scored his 25 goal of the season

IT’S as you were at the top of the Danske Bank Irish Premier League after 26 games.

Cliftonville are still nine points ahead of Crusaders after beating Portadown 3-1 at Shamrock Park.

Goals from O’Carroll and Gormley put the Reds two-up by 65 minutes before Mackle narrow the score to one with a goal on 75 minutes.

But goal machine Liam Boyce restored the two-goal advantage with a sweet goal on 85 minutes.

It secured the three points and it also meant Boyce has now scored 25 goals this season.

Crusaders maintain second position with 52 points after they thumped Ballymena 5-1 at Seaview.

Three goals in five minutes from McCutcheon, Heatley and Morrow lifted this game out of the doldrums in the first half.

The game was put beyond reach when Coates scored on 60 minutes and McCutcheon added his second to make it five-nil

On 79 minutes, Teggart pulled one back for Ballymena but it was a poor display from the Braid men after some recent good performances.

Third placed Linfield weren’t playing after their game against Donegal Celtice at Suffolk Park was called off on Friday after a pitch inspection.

The Blues now trail the Reds by 16 points but still with their postponed match with DC still to come, they have a game in hand.

But after their break, Linfield will surely feel refreshed as they play Crusaders on Tuesday night at Seaview in the replay of their semi-final of the IRN-BRU league cup.

Following their mid-week drubbing, Coleraine returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Glenavon.

Goals from Lowry, Harkin and McVey in the first half lifted manager Oran Kearney’s spirits.

The Whites pulled one back through Bates but it is a grim period for Distillery.

DANSKE BANK IRISH PREMIER LEAGUE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013:

BALLINAMALLARD UTD 3 (Feeney 1, 67; Carters 39) V GLENAVON 1 (Bates 73)

COLERAINE 3 (Lowry 16, Harkin 23, McVey 45) V LISBURN DISTILLERY 1 (Beggs 46)

CRUSADERS 5 V (McCutcheon 36, 69; Heatley 38, Morrow 40, Coates 60) V BALLYMENA UTD 1 (Teggart 79)

PORTADOWN 1 (Mackle 75) V CLIFTONVILLE 3 (O’Carrroll 8, Gormley 66, Boyce 85)