TOP TWO WON’T BE SPLIT

ONLY two Championship fixtures took place this weekend with two previously postponed matches played with only one more round of fixtures before the league splits in two, but both were among the most important of the season to date.

At Dixon Park, Ballyclare hosted Warrenpoint Town in a battle between the league’s top two – the hosts had won four Championship games on the spin to close the gap on the leaders to six points, but Matthew Tipton is yet to lose a league game with Point’s unbeaten run stretching back to October in the division.

Striker Chris Trussell gave Stephen Hughes’ side a 17th minute lead with a composed finish past Jonathan Parr in the 17th minute following Curtis Woods’ cross into the area.

Ten minutes later and Parr made an excellent double save, firstly denying Thomas Robinson before blocking the follow-up from Trussell.

However, the Point goalkeeper could do little on the half hour mark with Robinson firing home after a fine team move.

A minute later and Tipton’s men were back in it as striker Stephen Murray netted his 19th goal of the campaign to halve the deficit.

The visitors equalised on the hour mark as John Mcguigan superbly robbed Comrades goalkeeper Paddy Flood of the ball before squaring to Conor Mcmenamin (above) to level proceedings.

The hosts were forced to hang on in the end as both goalscorers went off injured and Point spurned a number of opportunities, but in the end both sides had to settle for a hard-fought share of the spoils.

The battle for the top six will go to the wire with six teams battling for the final three spots and Loughgall kept themselves right in the hunt with a thumping 4-1 win at Larne.

Andy Mooney gave David Mcalinden’s side a 20th minute lead but teenager Peter

Campbell levelled proceedings directly from a free-kick before the break.

Defender Richard Copeland netted twice and Marc Mcconnell added another to wrap up a statement win for Dean

Smith, who has won six of his eight league matches since moving to

Lakeview Park, while

Larne have only one win in eight.