Ballymena United moved three points clear of Crusaders in the Irish Premiership relegation play-off position with a 2-0 victory over Declan Caddell's side as Linfield beat Dungannon Swifts by 4-1.
After a goalless first half, two goals from Igor Rutkowski secured the crucial three points for the Sky Blues at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
At Stangmore Park, Linfield were the comfortable 4-1 victors against the 10-man Swifts.
Matthew Fitzpatrick gave Linfield an early lead before Rodney McAree's side quickly responded through Gael Bigirimana in the 8th minute.
However, two goals from Isaac Baird in the second half and Kyle McClean's strike extended the Blues' unbeaten run to eight games.
Tuesday's third Irish Premiership match between Portadown and Cliftonville was abandoned due to floodlight failure.
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Rutkowski stars as Ballymena beat Crues
Rutkowski looked the home side's most dangerous player in the opening exchanges and he forced a fine save from Crusaders keeper Musa Dibaga midway through the half.
David Toure, in an advanced wing back role, delivered an inviting ball into the penalty area where the striker cleverly flicked it on with his head, Dibaga tipping his effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, the visitors were restricted to very little, Kieran McKechine going closest with a shot from just outside the penalty area which went the wrong side of the post on the stroke of half-time.
Ballymena United broke the deadlock eight minutes after the restart thanks to Rutkowski's fifth goal for the club since joining in January.
Dylan McGeouch flighted an inviting free-kick into the heart of the Crusaders defence where the former Armagh City man glanced a header into the far corner past a helpless Dibaga.
Aaron Jarvis came within a whisker of doubling the home side's lead minutes later, but his 25 yard was narrowly off target.
Second half substitute Finley Thorndike failed to find the target from distance while Ballymena United captain Matthew Clarke shot wide after being put through by Aaron Jarvis.
Success Edogun forced a good save out of Dibaga before Ballymena United doubled their advantage with six minutes remaining.
The impressive Rutkowksi was fouled in the box by the Crusaders keeper but got up to plant the resulting penalty kick down the middle to score his second of the night.
Blues breeze past Swifts
Linfield grabbed a fifth minute lead when Dungannon lost possession inside their own half and Isaac Baird drove into the left-hand side of the penalty area before squaring the ball into the path of the in-rushing Fitzpatrick, who fired past Declan Dunne.
The lead lasted a mere three minutes, however, after the Blues were punished for some hesitant defending as Adam Glenny chipped the ball into the path of Bigirimana to fire a low shot across Chris Johns and into the bottom corner.
The visitors almost went back in front on 16 minutes when Kealan Dillon's misplaced pass in midfield was picked up by Matthew Fitzpatrick who ran forward, but his low shot from the edge of the penalty area came back off the base of the post.
The frame of the goal again came to Dungannon's rescue on 36 minutes when Danny Wallace's back-header fell short of its target. Fitzpatrick seized upon the loose ball but his shot from an acute angle was deflected by Dunne onto the post.
Dungannon almost went in front in first half stoppage time when Kobei Moore played a through ball into the path of Kealan Dillon's run from midfield, but his effort was blocked by Johns and then ricocheted back off the Swifts player for a goal kick.
The league champions regained the lead 10 minutes into the second period. Darragh Leahy's cross from the left caused confusion in the Dungannon defence and although Fitzpatrick and Ben Hall's initial efforts were blocked, the ball fell kindly for Baird to slot home from 10 yards.
And Baird struck again with 16 minutes left when he was in the right place at the right time to drill home after Sam Taylor's corner bounced around the Dungannon penalty area.
Linfield put some gloss on the scoreline with five minutes left when Kyle McClean dispossessed Adam Glenny before bursting into the penalty area and shooting high past Dunne.
Dungannon's miserable night took another turn for the worse in injury time when substitute Mal Smith was sent off for a foul on Matt Yates, with referee Tim Marshall adjudging that there were no other covering defenders behind him.