Gary Hamilton scored the winner five minutes from the end

Just when it looked like the struggling Crues would hold on, Hamilton struck to give the Ports their first away win since the first day of the campaign.

The result keeps Ronnie McFall's men in third place, four points behind pacesetters Glentoran.

Crusaders are one from bottom, having taken just six points from their nine championship fixtures.

Their central defender Jeff Spiers kept Hamilton quiet for most of the match while Neil Armstrong was in fine form in goals for the Crues.

Crusaders had started brightly with David Magowan and Chris Morrow testing keeper David Miskelly.

But, as the game wore on, Portadown got on top and when hitman Hamilton eventually got free he put away the chance to snatch all three points for the visitors.

Daily Mirror Irish Premier League
Ards 2-0 Omagh Town

		P	GD	PTS
1	Cliftonville	23	16	43
2	Glentoran	25	9	43
3	Crusaders	26	0	43
4	Linfield	23	20	42
5	Dungannon Swifts	25	3	40
6	Coleraine	23	16	39
7	Portadown	23	16	31
8	Glenavon	24	-10	30
9	Newry	25	-20	27
10	Ballymena	24	-8	26
11	Institute	22	-12	20
12	Lisburn Distillery	23	-32	14