Newry City remain comfortably clear at the top of the Lough 41 Championship but there is still almost nothing between the four sides behind them.

Darren Mullen's side got the weekend off to a great start on Friday night with a two-goal defeat of Dergview at Darragh Park. John McGovern bagged the opening goal just after the half-hour mark with Philip Donnelly making sure with six minutes remaining.

Also on Friday evening HW Welders momentarily moved into second spot with a 2-1 win at home to Ballyclare Comrades. Gary Lavery opened the scoring on 28 minutes before Johnny Frazer added a second on the hour, and although the visitors responded soon after through Jason Johnston they couldn't do enough to deny the Welders the points.

On Saturday Loughgall, Ballinamallard United and Annagh United all picked up another three points to be separated only by goal difference.

The Villagers travelled to the Brandywell to defeat Institute 3-2 thanks to goals from Caolan McAleer, Nedas Maciulaitis and Alan Teggart while goals from Patrick Ferry and Sean McEvoy saw the Mallards beat Ards 2-1 at Ferney Park.

Meanwhile Annagh kept a clean sheet with a three-goal defeat of Knockbreda courtesy of strikes from Stephen Murray, Aaron Rogers and Dale Malone.

And Dundela also recorded a shut out with a 2-0 win over Queen's University at Wilgar Park after Michael Kerr and Spencer Beattie found the net.