Sky Blues hit Portadown for six

David Cushley led the way with a first half hat-trick as the Sky Blues recorded their first win in nine Dankse Bank Premiership games against a Portadown side who opted to leave some of their big names on the bench or on the sidelines ahead of Saturday’s Irish CUp semi-final against Glentoran.

Cushley lobbed United in front in the fourth minute before Gary Twigg levelled the scores eight minutes later.

Cushley was at it again when he dispatched a superb curling 30-yard shot over Ports goalkeeper Jamie McArdle to make it 2-1.

The gifted playmaker recorded his hat-trick in the opening half with another fine finish before Mark Surgenor added a fourth just before the break.

There was better to come for the home side as substitute Gary Liggett fired home in the 50th minute to make it five and then the former Lisburn Distillery striker poked home a sixth 12 minutes later..

Ballymena United: Nelson, Stewart, Ruddy, Surgenor, Kane, Taggart, Cushley, Jenkins, Munster, Thompson, Liggett. Subs: Lowry, Dolan, Davidson, Taylor, Teggart.

Portadown: McArdle, Aaron Burns, Andrew Burns, Breen, Patton, Burns, Rooney, Mackle, McNeill, Lecky, Twigg. Subs: Stewart, Redman, Murray, Braniff, McCafferty.