Portadown are back in Bluefin Sport Championship action this Saturday (23 November 19) when we face Loughgall at Shamrock Park (Kick off 3pm)
In injury news Adam McCallum is still unavailable but will be back doing non contact training next week while Poggy Robinson is still in a walking boot. Chris Lavery has come through two games unscathed so could come back into contention while Ryan Carmichael and Callum Ferris are both available after international duty.
Ports midfielder Stephen Teggart won’t be involved as he’s serving a 1 match suspension following 5 yellow cards.
Loughgall have had a fantastic first quarter to their Bluefin Sport Championship campaign which seen them top the table however two defeats in their last three league games has seen them drop to third in the title race but they do have a game in hand on both ourselves and Ballinamallard United who sit in second. Loughgall can boast a 100% away league record and scored an impressive 4 goals or more in their first four away games of this campaign.
There will be a lot of familiar faces to Ports fans in the Loughgall squad with no fewer than seven former Portadown players in their squad including Jamie Douglas who grabbed two late goals for the Ports in last seasons Boxing Day derby at Shamrock Park to seal all 3 points for Matthew Tipton’s men.
Portadown are unbeaten against Loughgall in our previous nine league and Irish Cup games with the Ports recording 7 wins in those nine games, Loughgalls last victory against Portadown in the league or Irish Cup came back in 2009 when Loughgall done the double over Portadown in the 2008/09 season winning both home and away in the old Championship 16 team league format.
Loughgall’s top scorer is Nathaniel Ferris, former Ports forward & brother of current Ports striker Callum, with 13 goals while another former Portadown player in Peter Campbell has 8 goals from left wing.
Last time out in the Bluefin Sport Championship bottom club Knockbreda picked up a surprising 3-0 victory over Loughgall at Lakeview Park, only Knockbreda’s second win of the season and their first since the opening day, with Loughgall manager Dean Smith and his assistant Andy Smith both dismissed from the dugout. Portadown’s previous Bluefin Sport Championship outing seen them win 1-0 away at Ballyclare Comrades.
The last meeting between the two sides came back in August on the opening day of the season at Lakeview Park and seen a 0-0 stalemate.
Referee – Declan Hassan Assistant Referees – Damien Friel & Shane Corrigan
Match Sponsor – J.D Tipler
Match Ball Sponsors – Mackles / BPS Group / Gilford Chelsea Supporters Club / Jimmy Murray
PSS Man of the Match Sponsor – Dennis Davison Christmas Trees
2019/20 Bluefin Sport Championship season so far
Portadown – Played 17, Won 12, Drew 3, Lost 2. Goals for 36 / Goals against 11 – Bluefin Sport Championship position – 1st
Loughgall – Played 16, Won 10, Drew 3, Lost 3. Goals for 38 / Goals against 22 – Bluefin Sport Championship position – 3rd
Portadown Home League Form 2019/20 / Played 8, Won 6, Drew 1, Lost 1 Goals for 17 / Goals against 2
Loughgall Away League Form 2019/20 – Played 7, Won 7 Goals for 24 Goals / Goals Against 11
Previous Five Meetings
Saturday 03 August 2019 – Loughgall 0 Portadown 0
Wednesday 26 December 2018 – Portadown 2 (Douglas x2) Loughgall 1 (Ferguson)
Friday 10 August 2018 – Loughgall 1 (Liggett) Portadown 1 (Salley)
Friday 16 March 2018 – Portadown 2 (Lavery, McCallum) Loughgall 1 (Montgomery)
Saturday 10 February 2018 – Loughgall 1 (Ferris) Portadown 2 (Wilson x2)
#WeArePortsTV highlights – Portadown 2 Loughgall 1 – Boxing Day 2018