Portadown got back to winning ways on Saturday (2 Nov) against managerless Knockbreda at Shamrock Park to retain top spot in the Bluefin Sport Championship.
Ports boss Matthew Tipton made 3 changes to his eleven from that which drew with Queens the week previous with Paddy McNally returning in defence following a operation to reset a broken nose as well as Chris Crane coming back in at left back following suspension and Conall McGrandles replacing the suspended Marty Bradley.
Portadown were to have the first effort of note in the 14th minute when Lee Bonis picked up a long ball out of defence from Paddy McNally before going on a run and having a strike from outside the box which took a deflection off a defender forcing the Knockbreda keeper into a diving save to turn the ball round his right hand post. Ports were to go close again a few minutes later when Adam Salley flashed the ball across the face of goal however the cross just evaded the incoming Callum Ferris at the back post who was sliding in at full stretch to try and make contact, Ferris was to try his luck to break the deadlock again a few moments later with a curling shot from outside the box which went just over.
Portadown were to take the lead on 21 minutes when Callum Ferris grabbed his third of the season after he got on the end of a Greg Hall cross from the right to head into the net from close range and it wasn’t long until Ferris grabbed Portadowns second when he put the ball into the net from close range on 27 minutes after fantastic harrying down the right hand side from Lee Bonis to win the ball and go on a marauding run taking him past two defenders and into the box before cutting the ball back to Ferris at the edge of the 6 yard box.
Ports striker Adam Salley went close to adding a third when he picked the ball up on the right hand side of the Knockbreda box before heading towards the sideline and cutting back in before having a strike from the edge of the box which the ‘Breda keeper had to get down to save low down at his near post.
Knockbreda’s only significant chance of the first half came just before the half time whistle and almost brought them a goal when Gary Lavery beat Ports keeper Edwards to the ball in the box before his attempted lob had to be headed off the line by Ports defender Hall.
BLUEFIN SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP HALF TIME – PORTADOWN 2 KNOCKBREDA 0
Ports continued to dominate the second half and control possession without much serious goal mouth action at either end with the only real chances of note being Ports striker Salley going close with a long range free kick flashing just wide of the right hand post and Knockbreda defender Karl Hamill failing to control the ball from 6 yards out when it fell to him after a goal mouth scramble in the Ports box following a corner.
Portadown went on to seal the victory with their only real clear cut chance of the second half when substitute Aaron Duke picked up the ball in the centre circle before playing a delicious diagonal defence splitting slide ball through to the onrushing Lee Bonis who collected the pass and dinked the ball over the on coming keeper and into the net to give Matthew Tipton’s men a three goal lead.
Another three points for Portadown in their quest for promotion and next up is Newry City AFC at the Showgrounds this Friday evening (8 Nov) with a 7:45pm kick off.
BLUEFIN SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP RESULT – PORTADOWN 3 (Ferris x2, Bonis) Knockbreda 0
Portadown: Edwards, Hall, Crane, Finnegan, Salley, McGrandles, Wilson, McNally, Ferris, Teggart, Bonis subs McKenna (not used), Duke (replaced Ferris 67), Glackin (not used), Tipton (replaced McGrandles 71), McCullough (replaced Bonis 85)
Knockbreda: Hazard, McCauley, Wardlow, Hamill, Spence, Rice, Bennett, Shaw, Delaney, Cafolla, Lavery subs Burns (replaced Lavery 67), Halfpenny (replaced Wardlow 78), McGreevy (replaced Delaney 71), Short (not used)
Referee: Shane McGonigle
MATCH SPONSOR – PALYN LTD
MATCH BALL SPONSOR – THE PORTADOWN FC TRAVEL CLUB
PSS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR – EDEN REDS SUPPORTERS CLUB
PSS MAN OF THE MATCH – CALLUM FERRIS