Villagers back in top spot after Ports are rocked by the Welders

LOUGHGALL took full advantage of Portadown’s first league defeat since August 10 to move above their neighbours into top spot in the Bluefin Sport Championship table.

The Villagers now hold a onepoint lead at the summit after a 2-1 victory away to Dergview.

Goals from Nathaniel Ferris and Dale Malone had them 2-0 up at half-time and they held on for the win after the hosts pulled one back through Philip Wallace five minutes into the second-half.

Portadown had gone eight games without defeat — winning seven in-a-row — and they got a dream start away to Harland & Wolff Welders when Paddy McNally headed them in front inside the first two minutes.

Scott Davidson nodded home the equaliser before the break and Matthew Ferguson grabbed the winner when Ports goalkeeper Bobby Edwards failed to hold Dylan Davidson’s shot.

Third-placed Ballinamallard United conceded twice in the final quarter as they went down 2-0 at Ballyclare Comrades; Lukasz Adamczyk firing the home side in front before Thomas Robinson wrapped things up.

Dundela came crashing down to earth after their League Cup victory over Premiership side Larne when they lost 5-2 to Queen’s University.

Queen’s, who had suffered six league defeats in a row, raced into a 4-0 lead before half-time through Jonah Mitchell, Matthew Hughes, David Magee and Marc McKenna and, although the Duns netted either side of the break, they had left themselves with too much work to do even before David Magee hit the fifth late on.

Newry City also hit five as they hammered Ards and moved above Warren Feeney’s men.

Adam Foley took home the match ball after netting a hattrick, with Mark Hughes and Mark McCabe also on target, while Ards could only muster a reply through Kyle Calderwood.

Knockbreda, meanwhile, got their first point in five games when they came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at home to PSNI. Sean Green had put the Police in front in the first half, with Conall Delaney netting Breda’s equaliser.

RESULTS: Ballyclare 2 Ballinamallard 0; Dergview 1 Loughgall 2; H&W Welders 2 Portadown 1; Knockbreda 1 PSNI 1; Queen’s 5 Dundela 2.