It’s the one date in the season fans, managers and players alike look forward to more than any other and, once again, Boxing Day didn’t disappoint.

On the day that local bragging rights were on the line, it turned out to be a successful – and important – one for Ballymena United, Larne, Cliftonville, Linfield, Loughgall and Glenavon.

Linfield held onto their lead at the top of the table with a two-goal defeat of Glentoran at Windsor Park.

David Healy’s side found the net in each half with Ben Hall firing them in front on 36 minutes with a header into the bottom corner from Kirk Millar’s free-kick before, on the hour, Matthew Fitzpatrick doubled up when he got on the end of a Kyle McClean pass.

Larne got the better of Carrick Rangers by the odd goal in three at the Loughview Leisure Arena.

Leroy Millar opened the scoring midway through the first half with a right foot finish past Ross Glendinning, with Andy Ryan seemingly secure the points with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

Curtis Allen did pull one back a couple of minutes after that but the champions held on to seal the win.

In the north Belfast derby Cliftonville edged past Crusaders with the same scoreless at Solitude.

Rory Hale handed Jim Magilton’s side a 14th minute advantage after being teed up by Ben Wilson, but Lloyd Anderson levelled not long after the interval for the Crues to set up an intriguing second half.

However the outcome was settled with 15 minutes remaining when Wilson rifled home from close range after the ball deflected into his path.

There was only a fourth win of the campaign for Ballymena United as they came from behind to defeat Coleraine on Warden Street.

The Bannsiders had held the half-time advantage courtesy of Dean Jarvis’ 33rd minute header but the Sky Blues came out positively after the break when Johnny McMurray levelled from a few yards out.

Substitute Noah Stewart then edged Jim Ervin’s side in front on 73 minutes with a fine finish before the teenager made sure with his second of the game deep into stoppage time.

It was a case of four goals from four different players as Glenavon swept past Newry City at The Showgrounds.

Stephen McDonnell’s charges held a healthy half-time lead after Danny Wallace had blasted them in front as early as the fifth minute coupled with goals from Stephen Teggart and Niall Quinn midway through the half.

Aaron Prendergast then added a fourth with 12 minutes remaining with a finish through the legs of keeper Steven Maguire.

Meanwhile, at Lakeview Park, Benji Magee bagged a 95th minute winner as Loughgall stormed to victory over Dungannon Swifts.

Magee had given the Villagers an early lead when he was played through by Tiernan Kelly but Kealan Dillon had levelled just after the half-hour mark with a great finish into the top corner.

And that was how it stayed until the closing moments of the game when Magee struck again with a back post header to cap what proved to be a memorable afternoon all round.