Portadown return to Bluefin Sport Championship action this Saturday (7 Sept 19) when we take on league leaders Dundela at Shamrock Park (3pm kick off).

Ports manager Matthew Tipton in his post match interview after Friday nights win at Ards spoke about how the second half performance was the best he’s witnessed since he became manager but was rightly critical of the first half display and empathised that his team would need to build on how they performed in the final forty five minutes. Ports were missing Greg Hall, Marty Bradley and Chris Lavery from their squad on Friday night however assistant manger David Miskelly in this weeks local press has stated that he hopes we will be closer to full strength for the visit of Dundela.

Portadown will also be hoping Ryan Carmichael and Callum Ferris return from their midweek exploits with Northern Ireland Under 19s with a clean bill of health and ready to play a part in Saturdays game. Ryan was the stand out performer from Friday nights win over Ards after coming on at half time, he was involved in all four Portadown goals and capped off the come back with the fourth and final goal while Callum who was an unused substitute against Ards played a huge part in Northern Ireland U19s victory over the Faroe Islands on Tuesday by helping himself to two goals in the 4-0 victory.

Dundela have had a strong start to their Bluefin Sport Championship campaign and are so far unbeaten, after winning their opening league fixture against Dergview they picked up further victories against Knockbreda & the PSNI before picking up a point against both Loughgall and Newry City AFC before beating Queens University last time out.

The Portadown defence will have to keep an eye on Dundela striker Carl McComb who has scored five times in six appearances for Dundela this season including a four goal haul in the 5-2 win over the PSNI however last season’s talisman Jordan Hughes remains out with a long term injury which has seen him side lined since November. The Ports defence will also have to be wary of the threat posed too by David McMaster and Tiaran McNicholl who both have three goals in their previous four apperances against Matthew Tiptons men.

The Portadown squad have been sharing the goal scoring exploits among themselves so far this season with no fewer than eleven different goal scorers in our opening seven games however the Ports faithful will be none too concerned with who scores the goals this Saturday as long as Matthew Tipton’s men have secured the 3 points come Saturday tea time.

Another eye catching stat is that there has been nineteen goals in the last five games between Portadown and Dundela

The officials are – Referee – Ken Gibbons / Assistant 1 – Ryan Kelsey / Assistant 2 – Gavin Andrews

 

2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship season so far

Portadown – Played 6 , Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 1. Goals for 16 / Goals against 3

Dundela – Played 6, Won 4, Drew 2, Lost 0. Goals for 12 / Goals against 4

 

Portadown Home League Form 2019/20 / Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1. Goals for 7 / against 1

Dundela Away League Form 2019/20 / Played 2, Won 1, Drew 1. Goals for 2 / Goals against 0

 

Last 5 Head to Heads

Saturday 30 March 2019 – Dundela 2 (McNicholl x2) Portadown 0

Saturday 26 January 2019 – Portadown 3 (Thompson, Duke, Lavery)  Dundela 2 (McNicholl, McMaster)

Tuesday 27 November 2018 – Dundela 2 (McMaster, McComb) Portadown 3 (Salley x2, Lavery)

Saturday 20 October 2018 – Portadown 0 Dundela 4 (Hughes x2, McMaster, Murray)

Monday 27 August 2012 – Portadown 3 (McNeill, Mackle, Murray) Dundela 0

 

Match Preview video 

#WeArePortsTV highlights of our last home meeting with Dundela in the Bluefin Sport Championship