Queen’s University regained top spot in the Legacy Ulster Women’s Premier League as they beat Ballymoney 2-1 on Saturday.
The student side made it six wins from seven games, yet still only lead by goal difference as they move level on points with Ards.
After a tight opening two quarters, the sides went into the half-time break goalless at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre before the game exploded into life.
The hosts took a shock lead in the third quarter when Nikki Parke opened the scoring midway through the third quarter.
After winning a short corner, her straight strike from the top of the circle was low and hard to pick out the bottom corner and put her side on course for a second win of the season.
However, the Queen’s attack began to put the home defence under considerable pressure, and it didn’t take long before they got their reward.
Jenna McCarlie got her fourth goal of the season to draw her side level before Rhiannon Coulter rounded off a good move from the students to give them the lead and all three points.
The other game of the day saw Banbridge get their first points of the season as they beat Armagh 5-1 in a massive game at the bottom of the table.
It took just seven minutes for Bann to take the lead when Orla Magee fired in from a penalty corner.
The lead proved to be short-lived as Lydia Thompson drew level for her side from a short corner of their own just five minutes later.
The scores remained level until the third quarter when Rachel Cairns got her fourth goal of the season to restore the hosts lead before Orla Magee scored from another penalty corner to extend their lead to two.
With 56 minutes played Ruby Wilson took the game beyond Armagh when she made it 4-1 as she rounded off a free-flowing Banbridge attack.
As the game entered the closing moments the hosts were awarded a penalty flick which was eventually converted by Cairns for her second off the game to round off a brilliant win for her side.
The result sees Banbridge leapfrog their opponents to climb off the foot of the table into ninth, whilst Armagh now occupy the bottom place by goal difference.
There were two other games scheduled yesterday, however, Belfast Harlequins vs Lurgan and Lisnagarvey vs Portadown were both abandoned due to the weather.
