Portadown reduced the gap at the top of the Legacy Wealth Management Premier League to just three points as they beat Banbridge 2-0 at Edenvilla on Saturday afternoon.
Having dominated the opening stages of the tie, the hosts broke the deadlock just before the end of the first quarter when Beth Harper’s crash ball into the circle found Emily Adamson who scored from close range.
In the final quarter, Portadown finally doubled their lead when Katie Herron, Lara Wilson, Emily Adamson and Evie Girvan all combined before Girvan eventually converted to seal the win for her side.
The win now moves Portadown to within three points of leaders Queen’s University with both sides having played 16 games.
In the Men’s Premier League, South Antrim produced an extraordinary to comeback to beat North Down 4-3 at Comber Leisure Centre.
Three first-quarter goals from Harry Templeton, Philip Templeton and Conor Tweedie gave the side a quick 3-0 lead.
However, a hat-trick of penalty corners from David Gallagher and another goal from Matthew Sullivan saw the side turn the game on its head with the Lisburn side coming out on top with a dramatic comeback victory
At Edenvilla, Portadown made it back to back wins as they beat an in-form Belfast Harlequins team 3-2.
With just five minutes gone Ross Beattie gave the hosts the lead when a basline ball was pulled back to him at the penalty spot before Mackenzie Bennett doubled the lead in the third quarter.
Matthew Winter then added a third Portadown goal when he was left unmarked at the back post before making it 3-0.
Two last quarter goals from Matthew Gray and Stephen McGrath saw Quins reduce the deficit to just one goal but it was too little too late as Portadown held on to win 3-2.
The loss sees Harlequins lose ground in the race for EYHL2 whilst Portadown climb to within two points of Saturday’s opponents.
Photo: Front Row Union