Smaller parties: The early counts proved a brutal experience forndependents and the smaller parties.
Ms Monica McWilliams was under pressure in South Belfast and her former Assembly colleague, Ms Jane Morrice, was in a fierce struggle to retain the final seat for the Women's Coalition in North Down.
The Alliance vote in Belfast was hit, with the West Belfast candidate securing just 75 first preferences in a constituency where once they had a secure quota.
Mr Billy Hutchinson, holder of a seat for Mr David Ervine's Progressive Unionists in North Belfast, seemed to have an impossible job against the unionist swing towards the DUP. As the first day of counting edged towards closure, no independents had been deemed elected, with the sole exception of Mr Kieran Deeny, a candidate opposed to hospital closures, winning in West Tyrone.
Mr Fraser Agnew, one of two United Ulster Coalition Assembly members, lost out in North Belfast as anti-agreement sentiment gravitated towards the DUP. In Lagan Valley, Mr Ivan Davis, a former Ulster Unionist chief whip, was polling badly. He had not been selected by the UUP and decided to run as a pro-agreement independent.
As expected, the agreement sceptic, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, did well in that constituency, with more than 14,000 first preferences.
The Alliance vote was under some pressure elsewhere in the North with Mrs Eileen Bell - the deputy leader fighting in North Down - and her running mate winning just 700 votes.
Mr Seamus Close is still in the running in Lagan Valley and the party leader, Mr David Ford, was also fighting hard in South Antrim.
Mr Sean Neeson was facing an uphill struggle in East Antrim, a constituency where they had ambitions of two seats.
Mr Bob McCartney seemed secure in North Down, but other UK Unionists fared less well.