Portadown moved to the top of the Playr-Fit Championship on an afternoon that also produced victories for Ballyclare Comrades, Ballinamallard United, HW Welders and Newington.

The Ports took advantage of morning leaders Dundela suffering the postponement of their clash with Dergview at Wilgar Park to edge into pole position on goal difference with a 3-1 defeat of Knockbreda at Shamrock Park.

Niall Currie’s side raced into a commanding lead after half-an-hour thanks to goals from Eoghan McCawl and Ryan Mayse, but Guillaume Keke pulled one back for bottom of the table ‘Breda in first half stoppage time. However, Sam Cochrane made sure for the Ports right at the end of the game.

Institute remain third despite going down 4-1 away to HW Welders.

Despite the outcome ‘Stute led for most of the game after Michael Harris had fired them in front as early as the fourth minute.

It was lead they held until the 72nd minute when Matthew Ferguson headed the Welders level at the near post.

Lewis Barr edged the Welders in front six minutes later before, sixty seconds after that, Tiarnan O’Connor hit a third from outside the box. Ferguson then doubled his tally to complete the scoring five minutes from time.

Newington put the brakes on their recent losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Annagh United at Inver Park.

Scoreless for an hour, Neil Cummings broke the deadlock with a near post header before Zach Barr, again with a header, doubled up seven minutes later. Barr then tapped home Newington’s third with eight minutes remaining to secure the points.

There two hat-tricks at Dixon Park as Ballyclare Comrades defeated Ards 6-3 in a hugely entertaining encounter.

Owen McConville edged the Comrades in front after just four minutes, with Calvin McCurry making it 2-0 midway through the first half with a shot into the bottom corner.

McCurry struck again on 37 minutes before, at the other end, James McLaughlin headed home for Ards.

Michael Morgan restored Ballyclare’s three-goal cushion late in the first half but there was no further scoring until a frantic last ten minutes or so.

McCurry bagged his hat-trick on 80 minutes but, remarkably, McLaughlin hit back with two goals in as many minutes not long after that to also hit his hat-trick.

But, if that wasn’t enough, there was still time for a stunning finish as Comrades keeper Declan Breen completed the scoring from his own half!

Meanwhile, at Clandeboye Park, Ballinamallard United hit three goals without reply past hosts Bangor.

Darragh Byrne opened the scoring for the Mallards after 11 minutes with a tap in before Simon Warrington added a second just after the half-hour mark.

James McGrath then hit a third direct from a free-kick early in the second half to put the issue beyond doubt.