A WILLIE Faulkner goal 10 minutes from time was enough to give Dundela a hard-fought 1-0 win at basement side Knockbreda and open up a two point gap at the top of the PlayR-Fit Championship - with two games in hand over closest challengers Institute.
Stute could only draw 0-0 at Annagh United.
Irish Cup heroes Ards came back to earth with a bump, losing 1-0 against Ballinamallard at Clandeboye Park.
Niall Currie’s Portadown kept alive their hopes of an immediate return to the top flight with a 2-1 win over H&W Welders at Blanchflower Stadium, while Newington lost 3-1 against Bangor at Larne’s Inver Park, the north Belfast Swans failing to hit the heights of last week’s Irish Cup triumph against high-flying Dundela.
Bangor defender Lewis Francis is the Northern Ireland Football Writers’ Association’s Championship Player of the Month for December.
The Dungannon Swifts loanee helped Bangor finish the festive month unbeaten, weighing in with four goals of his own including a brace against Annagh United.
The 19 year-old said: “December was a good month for me and the team. We’ve kicked on after a patchy autumn and we’re hoping for more in the new year.
“I’m enjoying my loan stint. I’ve learned a lot from playing in a competitive division. You’re playing against tough centre forwards every week and you’re learning from the senior players in the dressing room like Michael Halliday.
“In the new year, I hope to help Bangor push for promotion.”