Boss Stephen Gourley toasts William Faulkner as Dundela continue to set pace

Dundela's William Faulkner was the match-winner for Stephen Gourley's side against Knockbreda

Dundela manager Stephen Gourley praised veteran midfielder William Faulkner after he came off the bench to score a vital winner at Knockbreda on Saturday.

Basement side Breda held the Duns for 80 minutes before Faulkner broke the deadlock to send the east Belfast side two points clear at the top of the Playr-Fit Championship.

It was a welcome win for the League leaders, who had lost each of their last two second-tier matches.

Gourley said: “When you’re playing a team that is fighting for their lives, they’re going to park the bus and frustrate you as much as they can.

“But overall, we dominated possession; we just made the wrong decisions in the final third.

“We had to wait for the breakthrough, but Willie came off the bench and took his chance well. His experience made a real difference.

Elsewhere, second-placed Institute drew 0-0 away to Annagh United while third-placed Bangor beat Newington 3-1 at Inver Park. A Scott McArthur brace, either side of a Ben Arthurs strike, put the Seasiders within five points of the League leaders. Bangor host Dundela on Friday night in what promises to be one of the most important games of the season.

Portadown kept the pressure on the top three with a 2-1 win over Harland and Wolff Welders at Blanchflower Park, as recent recruit – signed from Dundela – Ciaran Dobbin scored a double.

Ballyclare Comrades kept themselves in the promotion hunt with a 3-1 win over 11th-placed Dergview. Darius Roohi, Gary Donnelly and Caolan Donnelly scored at Darragh Park.

A late James McGrath goal gave Ballinamallard United a 1-0 win at Clandeboye Park as Ards returned to earth with a bump after last week’s Irish