Cliftonville 0 Linfield 0: Blues maintain one point…

Cliftonville 0 Linfield 0: Blues maintain one point lead over Reds in fascinating title race

It's as you were at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership after leaders Linfield and second-placed Cliftonville couldn’t be separated in an enthralling scoreless draw at Solitude.

Saturday's stalemate means David Healy Blues, who are chasing a fourth successive Gibson Cup, remain a point clear of the Reds with four games remaining in the title race.

Third-placed Glentoran, who suffered a thumping 4-0 defeat at home to Crusaders, are now a distant six points off the summit with time running out.

While it ended 0-0 in North Belfast, it was a fascinating tussle and either side might have won it in front of a bumper crowd.

Christy Manzinga had Linfield’s best chance in the 18th minute when he was released by Chris McKee, but the striker’s close range shot was saved by Luke McNicholas.

Blues captain Jamie Mulgrew, Manzinga and Jordan Stewart, from a stoppage time free-kick, also fired narrowly wide for the visitors in the second-half.

At the other end Cliftonville’s best chances fell to striker Joe Gormley who had gone into the game on the back of seven goals in his previous five games.

The in-form frontman volleyed over from 12 yards out in the 48th minute and was later denied by Linfield keeper Chris Johns at point blank range after being teed up by Ryan Curran.

Elsewhere, Glentoran’s title hopes suffered a hammer blow when they fell to a damaging - and demoralising - 4-0 defeat to Crusaders at the BetMcLean Oval.

Declan Caddell, Philip Lowry, Daniel Larmour and Paul Heatley were all on target for the visitors who dominated proceedings throughout.

The Glens, who were booed by a section of their supporters, have taken just 10 points from a possible 21 in their last seven outings in the Danske Bank Premiership.

In Section B, basement club Warrenpoint Town kept their faint survival hopes alive with a crucial 1-0 win over second-bottom Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Kealan Dillon’s first-half penalty edged Barry Gray’s men to only their fourth league win of the season to move nine points off the Ports in the play-off spot with four games left.

Carrick Rangers beat Dungannon Swifts 1-0 to edge above the Stangmore Park on goal difference and four points clear of Portadown in the drop zone.

10-man Glenavon bolstered their hopes of securing seventh place and a spot in the European play-offs with a 3-1 win over Ballymena United.

Two goals in two second-half minutes from Peter Campbell won it for the Lurgan Blues who had seen Calum Birney cancel out Kym Nelson’s 25th minute opener for the Sky Blues.

Ballymena spurned a chance to go in front from the penalty spot after Danny Wallace was red carded for Glenavon when Leroy Millar’s spot-kick was saved by debutant Josh Clarke.

And it got worse for Ballymena in stoppage time when influential skipper Millar was sent off following a melee in the centre circle.