Portadown are back in Bluefin Sport Championship action this Saturday (12 October 19) when we travel to Tillysburn Park to face H&W Welders (Kick Off 3pm).
Portadown are still without the suspended Chris Crane with Liam McKenna expected to continue to deputise at left back while Chris Lavery remains sidelined until November at the earliest with a grade 2 medial ligament tear.
H&W Welders have had a difficult start to their 2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship campaign with only two victories so far this season with their last Championship win coming back on 17 August when they beat Queens University 2-1 at Tillysburn however they have had impressive showings in both the County Antrim Shield and Bet McLean League Cup this season with victories in those competitions over Premiership opposition in Carrick Rangers (Co.Antrim Shield) and Warrenpoint Town (League Cup).
Last time out in the Bluefin Sport Championship H&W Welders were on the end of a 4-1 defeat against Loughgall at Lakeview Park however it’s the Welders home form that has seen them at their best this season with their only defeat at Tillysburn Park in their five home games coming against Ballinamallard United so the Ports will have to be at their best to come away with the points on Saturday.
Portadown have only lost to the Welders once in our last 12 meetings, that being a 3-2 defeat at Tillysburn Park in September 2017 and our last visit to Tillysburn Park in the Bluefin Sport Championship seen us run out 6-0 winners back in February 2019.
The last meeting between the two sides came earlier this season when the Ports run out 2-0 winners at Shamrock Park back in August through goals from Lee Bonis and Greg Hall.
Officials for Saturdays game – Referee: Mark Dillion / Assistant Referees: Kristian Hanna & Jamie Carnduff
2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship season so far
Portadown – Played 11, Won 8, Drew 2, Lost 1. Goals for 24 / Goals against 5 – Bluefin Sport Championship position – 1st
H&W Welders – Played 11, Won 2, Drew 3, Lost 6. Goals for 13 / Goals against 27 – Bluefin Sport Championship position – 11th
Portadown Away League Form 2019/20 / Played 5, Won 4, Drew 1. Goals for 12 / against 3
H&W Welders Home League Form 2019/20 / Played 5, Won 2, Drew 2, Lost 1. Goals for 8 / Goals against 7
Last 5 Head to Heads
Saturday 24 August 2019 – Portadown 2 (Bonis, Hall) H&W Welders 0
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)
#WeArePortsTV Coverage of our previous Bluefin Sport Championship game against H&W Welders at Tillysburn Park in February 2019: