A 12th minute free kick from Ben Tilney and 88th minute header from Lee Bonis sealed a 2-0 win for Portadown on Saturday afternoon against Carrick Rangers.
Portadown going into the fixture made three changes from Tuesdays game against Larne. Adam McCallum, Ben Tilney and George Tipton came in for Luke Wilson, Ruairi Croskery and Sam Warde.
Manager Matthew Tipton confirmed on the #WeArePortsTV “Matchday Live” show that captain Luke Wilson suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament on Tuesday night against Larne and thus will be ruled out for significant period of time.
The visitors Carrick also made three changes from their midweek 1-1 draw with Crusaders. Steven Gordon, Kyle Cherry and Lloyd Anderson came in for Chris Ramsey, Corey McMullan and Jordan Jenkins.
On two minutes the visiting side had an opportunity through midfielder Kyle Cherry, who sent his volleyed effort over the bar and into the advertisement hoardings behind the goal.
On 6 minutes the visitors had a free kick from around 25 yards taken by defender Caolan Loughran which failed to trouble Ports keeper Carney.
Around a minute later Lee Bonis called Carrick keeper Aaron Hogg into action to make a save following a free kick in a dangerous position at the other end.
On 11 minutes the visitors had a good opportunity when Lloyd Anderson found space down the right side before cutting inside and forcing a good save from Jacob Carney.
Soon after Portadown would have the opening goal when Ben Tilney curled a free kick into the top corner from a tight angle for his first goal in a Portadown shirt and to give us an early advantage in the game.
On 18 minutes Carrick had an opportunity when Cherry found Lloyd Anderson in space from a corner, with his powerful effort being saved by Jacob Carney.
On the brink of half time on 42 minutes Portadown went inches from doubling their lead when Paul Finnegan got on the end of a George Tipton corner and sent a looping header just wide of the post.
Half time score:
Portadown 1 (Tilney 12’)
Carrick Rangers 0
Into the second half as the visitors searched for the equaliser they had a huge opportunity to do so on 62 minutes when a ball over the top of the Portadown defence found Friel one on one with Carney from close range, however the former Ballymena United man sent his effort over the bar.
On 65 minutes the Ports had a good opportunity to make it 2-0, when, a Tipton corner was headed on by McCallum to Conaty who, from close range sent his header into the hands of Carrick keeper Aaron Hogg.
On 69 minutes Carrick substitute Michael Smith went on a driving run down to the left side before having his shot blocked by Adam McCallum and out for a corner.
On 72 minutes after being played through by Tipton, on the left side Ben Tilneys low drive was tipped past by the post by Aaron Hogg.
On 73 minutes Portadown had a penalty appeal waved away after appeals that Adam McCallums header from a corner struck the hand of Reece Glendinning with nothing consequently being awarded.
On 83 minutes following a good run from Sam Warde, the substitute had a shot from outside the box which was easily gathered by Carrick goalkeeper Hogg.
On the 88th minute Portadown would get their second goal when Sam Wardes delivery from a free kick found the head of Ports marksman Lee Bonis for his 10th goal of the season.
Following a period of stoppage time the referee blew the full time whistle for three points for the men in red.
We are back in action this Tuesday 13th April at Shamrock Park against Dungannon Swifts. You can find the game on https://www.247.tv/
Full time score:
Portadown 2 (Tilney 12’, Bonis 88’)
Carrick Rangers 0
(game took place behind closed doors)
PSS Man of the Match – Adam McCallum (Chosen by Sponsor Portadown FC grounds staff)
Match Officials
Referee – Christopher Morrison
Assistant 1 – Kristian Hanna
Assistant 2 – Mark O’Brien
4th official – Louise Thompson
Portadown XI (managed by Matthew Tipton): 52.Carney (GK), 2.Hall, 4.McCallum, 5.Finnegan, 6.McKeown (replaced by Warde 75’), 8.Tipton, 9.Salley, 10.Bonis (C) (scorer 88’), 21.Conaty (replaced by Teggart 81’), 22.Kerr (booked 42’), 44.Tilney (scorer 12’) (booked 26’), (replaced by Scannell 90’)
Portadown substitutes: 33.Buchanan (GK) (unused), 11.Murray (unused), 17. R Croskery (unused), 19.Guy (unused), 20.Teggart, 23.Warde, 25.Scannell
Carrick Rangers (managed by Niall Currie): 18.Hogg (GK), 3.Neale (replaced by Smith 62’), 5.Rodgers, 6.Loughran (booked 22’), 7. Chapman, 17.Gordon, 20.Cherry (replaced by Storey 77’), 23.Glendinning, 24.Gibson, 42.Anderson (replaced by Jenkins 62’), 99.Friel
Carrick Rangers substitutes: 2.Forsythe (unused), 16.Smith, 37.Kalla (unused), 43.Jenkins, 44.McMullan (unused), 48.Storey, 55.Ramsey (unused)
Written by Alex Morrison.