A 47th minute strike from Adam Salley sealed a 1-0 win for Portadown against Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday night at Shamrock Park.
Going into the game Portadown made 2 changes off the back of Saturdays win over Carrick Rangers, with Sam Warde coming in for Barney McKeown who picked up a knock on Saturday. Eamon Scannell then came in for Nathan Kerr who also picked up a knock in the warm up prior to kick off.
The visiting side made 6 changes from their 2-0 defeat to Glentoran on Saturday. Shane and Cahal McGinty, Adam Glenny, Ethan McGee, Zach Ferson and James Convie came in for Calum Byers, Mark Patton, Michael Carvill, Ryan Mayse, Ben Gallagher and Dylan O’Kane.
On the 5th minute the visitors had an opportunity when a Rhyss Campbell pass found James Convie whose effort from close range was saved by Jacob Carney.
On 8 minutes it was Portadowns turn to have their own opportunity when Salley and Tilney linked up in a neat passing move, with Tilneys effort being saved by Roy Carroll who dived to his left to collect the shot.
On 13 minutes Oisin Conaty latched on the end of a great Tilney ball however his shot was blocked and put out for a corner by Cahal McGinty.
On 17 minutes, after Scannell dispossessed Dungannons Oisin Smyth, Conaty picked up the loose ball however his subsequent shot failed to trouble Roy Carroll.
On 22 minutes Portadown had a huge chance to take the lead when teenager Conaty, after a good run down the right squared the ball to Lee Bonis, with Swift’s keeper Carroll saving well to deny Ports marksman Bonis.
On 34 minutes Ports midfielder Sam Warde collected a Greg Hall throw in, before a pirouette and shot was saved by Roy Carroll.
On 38 minutes Dungannons Zach Ferson, who made his first Premiership start for the visitors, found space down the right side from a pass before having his shot blocked by Adam McCallum.
On the brink of half time as the Ports pushed for the opening goal a great run from Oisin Conaty resulted in a Lee Bonis shot that was saved by Roy Carroll.
Around a minute later Adam Salley had a shot from close range cleared off the line following a Sam Warde corner.
Half time score:
Portadown 0
Dungannon Swifts 0
On 47 minutes the Ports would go in front when following interplay between Ben Tilney and Adam Salley, the latter then curled an effort into the top right corner giving the keeper little chance and scoring his 5th goal of the season.
On 52 minutes Dungannons Ethan McGee picked up a clearance from the Portadown defence before sending his shot from the edge of the box wide of the post.
On 55 minutes Ports midfielder Warde went on a marauding run before sending his resulting shot well over the bar.
On 64 minutes an Adam Salley pass found Oisin Conaty who had room to run at the Dungannon defence on the right side, with his subsequent shot being deflected inches wide of the post just beyond Lee Bonis at the other post.
On 65 minutes a Ben Tilney through ball found Oisin Conaty, with Oisins effort being neutralised by a Matthew Smyth tackle.
On 68 minutes Dungannons Rhyss Campbell played a ball to defender Coyle at the back post whose header across the face of goal was collected by Jacob Carney.
On 70 minutes Ryan Mayse headed on a ball into the box from Caolin Coyle which was easily saved by Jacob Carney in the Portadown goal.
On the 75th minute the substitute Mayse curled a low effort from the edge of the box which was saved by Carney.
On 81 minutes, following a Portadown corner a deflected clearance landed at the feet of Lee Bonis, whose shot was denied by Roy Carroll with his feet.
In the last ten minutes as the visitors pushed for an equaliser they struggled to really fashion any significant opportunity to test Jacob Carney and after a three minute period of stoppage time, referee Evan Boyce blew the final whistle which secured three points for the Ports.
We go again this Saturday 17th April at home to Cliftonville in the Danske Bank Premiership. Please note that kick off will be at 5:30pm and the game will be live on the BBC Sport NI website.
Full time score:
Portadown 1 (Salley 47’)
Dungannon Swifts 0
(game took place behind closed doors)
PSS Man of the Match: Oisin Conaty
Chosen by Sponsor The Head O’ the Road.
Match Officials
Referee – Evan Boyce
Assistant 1 – Stephen Bell
Assistant 2 – Adam Jeffrey
4th official – Niall Gallagher
Portadown XI (managed by Matthew Tipton): 52. Carney (GK), 2. Hall, 4.McCallum, 5. Finnegan, 8. G Tipton, 9. Salley, 10.Bonis (C), 21. Conaty (replaced by Teggart 79’), 22. Kerr, 23. Warde (booked 57’), 44. Tilney (replaced by Lavery 71’ booked 75’)
Portadown substitutes: 33. Buchanan (GK) (unused), 7. Lavery, 11. Murray, 17. R.Croskery, 19. Guy, 20. Teggart, 25. Scannell
Dungannon Swifts XI (managed by Dean Shiels): 33. Carroll (GK),2. Coyle (booked 40’) (replaced by Teelan 84’), 10. Oisin Smyth (C), 11. Campbell, 17. C McGinty, 21. S McGinty, 25. Convie (replaced by Carvill 79’), 26. Glenny, 27. McGee, 32. Matthew Smyth, 44. Ferson (replaced by Mayse 56’)
Dungannon Swifts substitutes: 13. Byrne (GK) (unused), 16. Carvill, 19. Mayse, 28. Conway (unused), 29. Teelan, 30. Odhran Smyth (unused), 31. Evans (unused)
Written by Alex Morrison.