Portadown 1, Ballymena United 0

Ballymena United’s hopes of securing a top six finish in th Danske Bank Premiership suffered a setback as they lost to Portadown in a Shamrock Park mudbath.
Portadown's Peter McMahon
and Ballymena's Alan Teggart
during Saturday's match at Shamrock Park.Portadown's Peter McMahon
and Ballymena's Alan Teggart
during Saturday's match at Shamrock Park.
Portadown's Peter McMahon and Ballymena's Alan Teggart during Saturday's match at Shamrock Park.

The two sides battled hard in appalling conditions but Sean Mackle’s spectacular strike 15 minutes from the end settled the game in the Ports’ favour.

While other top flight games were postponed, no pitch inspection was required at Shamrock Park but heavy rain in the couple of hours before kick-off left the surface in a saturated state, with large puddles of water.

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Ballymena survived an early scare when Emmett Friars got in front of United keeper Aaron Shanahan from a Chris Casement free kick but could only head over the bar from close range.

At the other end, Davy Munster’s header from an Ally Teggart free kick was deflected behind for a corner.

Despite the difficult conditions, Shanahan showed good handling skills as he dived to his right to hold Neil McCafferty’s 25 yard drive.

Ballymena, despite playing against the breeze, enjoyed a good spell of pressure, forcing a number of corners, with Ports keeper David Miskelly forced to punch clear on a couple of occasions.

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At the other end, Portadown also looked dangerous from corner kicks, with a couple of close-range efforts going just wide.

Allan Jenkins dragged a shot weakly off target when well placed just outside the area,

The United skipper was the n dispossessed deep inside his own half but Darren Murray’s low, curling effort deflected behind off keeper Shanahan.

The Ballymena keeper made another important intervention in the opening minute of the second half when he was quickly off his line to get a touch to divert Gary Twigg’s shot behind.

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Aaron Stewart then tried his luck with a 30-yard piledriver which keeper Miskelly opted to palm away rather than catch.

As the game continued to go from end to end, United had a huge let-off when Shanahan came for Neil McCafferty’s cross but didn’t get close but as the loose ball dropped to Peter McMahon, he could only scoop his shot over the bar.

But the Ports struck the decisive blow with 15 minutes left.

Sean Mackle collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and was given too much time to cut inside and fire a left-footed drive into the top corner, despite Shanahan getting a touch to the ball.

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Ballymena almost replied straight away when David Cushley’s 40 yard free kick almost drifted in at the far post.

United had the ball in the net with five minutes left but Michael McLellan’s close-range effort from a Cushley free kick was chalked off for offside after the referee’s assistant adjudged that Darren Boyce had been offside before cutting the ball back to McLellan.

Portadown: Miskelly, Casement, O’Hara, Ramsey, Breen, McMahon, Mackle, Murray, Twigg, McCafferty, Friars. Subs (not used): Brennan, Judge, McConnell, Barton, McStay.

Ballymena United: Shanahan, Ervin, McCullagh, Munster, Stewart, Thompson, Surgenor, Jenkins, Cushley, Boyce, Teggart (sub McLellan 81). Subs (not used): Kane, Davidson, Ruddy, Lowry.

Referee