Knockbreda's hopes of retaining their Championship place received a huge boost following a convincing victory over Ballymacash Rangers in the play-off first leg at the Bluebell Stadium.

'Cash moved in front with just over half-an-hour on the clock through Zach Barr who turned to convert after the ball fell for him in the box.

It was a lead they held until first half stoppage time when 'Breda levelled after Igor Rutkowski made the most of a mistake in the home defence.

The visitors then moved in front a couple of minutes after the interval when an Anto Burns ball dropped for Lee McGreevy to prod home.

'Breda then extended their lead just before the hour courtesy of Max Greer's great finish from Ewan McCoubrey's ball over the top.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Igor doubled his tally for the evening after connecting with a perfectly timed pass.

Rangers were thrown what could be a liftline three minutes into stoppage time, however, when Jordon Morrison met a corner to beat keeper Daniel Oakes.

The sides meet again on Saturday in the return leg at Breda Park, kick-off 1pm.

Ballymacash Rangers: Neeson, McComb, Sharkey, Morrison, Barr, Smith, Tommons, Cahoon, Newberry, Beggs, Davidson subs Smyth, Glasgow, Clarke, Moore, Keke, Woods, Ferguson

Knockbreda: Nicholl, McCauley, Moore, P. McDermott, A. McDermott, McGreevy, McCoubrey, Greer, Rutkowski, Burns, Dornan subs Oates, Montgomery, McVeigh, Wright, Cummings, McClean, Morrison