Following on from last Saturdays empathic 5-0 victory over Knockbreda at Breda Park we welcome H&W Welders to Shamrock Park for Matchday 5 of the 2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship this Saturday (24th August) with a 3pm kick off.
Ports manager Matthew Tipton will be demanding for more of the same from his Ports team after last Saturdays professional dispatching of Knockbreda and will be hoping his side can find the consistency, something he’s spoke about at length in the press, needed for a title challenge. The boss will also be hoping the Ports defence continue their solid start which has seen Ports GK Edwards keep three clean sheets in his opening four games.
There were four changes to the Portadown XI for last Saturdays trip to Knockbreda from the team that started in the defeat to Ballinamallard United the previous Saturday with Adam McCallum and George Tipton coming in to make their first starts of the season while Tipton handed competitive debuts to Conall McGrandles and Lee Bonis as well as Gary Millar who came off the bench in the second half. Paul Finnegan, Chris Lavery, Marty Bradley and Ryan Carmichael were all absent from Saturdays squad due to injury while Aaron Duke dropped down to the substitutes bench after starting the previous three games which means the Ports boss may well have a selection headache come Saturday lunch time when it comes to naming his team if the afore mentioned injured quartet have recovered and ready to return.
One player that should be assured of a place in Matthew Tipton’s squad is Adam Salley who grabbed his first hat trick for the club in Saturdays 5-0 win over Knockbreda, Salley who had been without a goal in his previous nine appearances will be hoping to better his total of 16 goals for club in the 2018/19 campaign and what better way to get up and running than with a hat trick!
Portadown are unbeaten against H&W Welders at Shamrock Park since we were relegated to the Bluefin Sport Championship in 2017 with 2 wins and 2 draws in the league as well as a victory over the Welders at Shamrock Park in the League Cup in August 2017, in total we’ve only lost to the Welders once in our last 11 meetings, that being a 3-2 defeat at Tillysburn Park in September 2017. Ports number nine Adam Salley also has an impressive record against the Welders with five goals in his previous five appearances against them while Chris Lavery has 3 in his previous 5 appearances. H&W Welders are also a popular team for Ports players to grab their first league goal for the club against with Adam McCallum, Marty Bradley, Liam McKenna and Aaron Duke all opening their league accounts against the Welders.
H&W Welders come into the game on the back of a 2-1 victory over Queen’s University on Saturday at Tillysburn Park following a 8-0 hammering by Ballyclare Comrades in their previous Bluefin Sport Championship fixture. Prior to that the Welders had a tough start to their campaign with their opening two fixtures against the teams relegated from last seasons Danske Bank Premiership, they were defeated 1-0 by Ards at Clandeboye Park after securing an impressive 2-0 opening day victory over Newry City AFC. They also secured a 6-0 victory over Armagh City at Holm Park in the Bet McLean League Cup.
Last seasons corresponding fixtures at Shamrock Park seen the Ports come away with the 3 points on both occasions, a 3-1 victory in April 2019 and a 3-2 victory in January 2019, the January fixture seen the Ports come back from 2-0 down to secure the win thanks to second half goals from Adam Salley, Liam McKenna and a 86th minute strike from Aaron Duke.
The officials are – Referee – Barry Monaghan / Assistant 1 – Shane Corrigan / Assistant 2 – Roy Beacom
2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship season so far
Portadown – Played 4, Won 2, Drew 1, Lost 1. Goals for 10 / Goals against 1
H&W Welders – Played 4, Won 2, Drew 0, Lost 2. Goals for 4 / Goals against 10
Portadown Home League Form 2019/20 / Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1. Goals for 5 / against 1
H&W Welders Away League Form 2019/20 / Played 2, Lost 2. Goals for 0 / Goals against 9
Last 5 Head to Heads
Saturday 13 April 2019 – Portadown 3 (Mackle, McCallum & Lavery) H&W Welders 1 (Dornan)
Saturday 16 February 2019 – H&W Welders 0 Portadown 6 (Salley x2, Duke, Carmichael, Bradley, Wilson)
Saturday 19 January 2019 – Portadown 3 (Salley, McKenna & Duke) H&W Welders 2 (Ferguson x2)
Saturday 25 August 2018 – H&W Welders 0 Portadown 2 (Salley & Douglas)
Saturday 7 April 2018 – H&W Welders 1 (Arthur) Portadown 3 (Lavery x2, Salley)
#WeArePortsTV Coverage of our previous Bluefin Sport Championship game against H&W Welders at Shamrock Park back in April:
