Portadown will play their first League Cup tie since 2019 when we take on NIFL Premier Intermediate side Newington this evening (Tues 14 Sept) at Shamrock Park, kick off 7:45pm.
The Ports come into the game off the back of Saturdays 3-2 defeat to reigning Premiership champions Linfield while Newington were 2-0 winners over Derriaghy in the 3rd round of the Steel & Sons Cup at Solitude. In league matters Newington sit 4th in the NIFL Premier Intermediate after 2 victories in their opening 3 league games.
A familiar face in the Newington squad will be former Portadown midfielder Gary Warwick who was at Shamrock Park from 2017 to 2018 and endeared himself to the Ports faithful with a hat trick on Boxing Day 2017 against Loughgall at Lakeview Park, Gary also has had spells at Ards, Cliftonville, Donegal Celtic, Carrick Rangers and Lurgan Celtic.
Last time out in this competition, in 2019/20, Portadown suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Dollingstown at Shamrock Park in the second round of the competition while Newington also exited the competition in the same round to Ballymena United following a 3-0 defeat at the Showgrounds.
The last time the two clubs met competitively was back in January 2008 at Shamrock Park in the Irish Cup when a solitary goal in the 77th minute by Gary McCutcheon seen the Ports progress in a hard fought victory.
Portadown are two time previous winners of the competition with their last success coming in 2009, beating Newry City in the final thanks to a Gary McCutcheon strike.
Here’s Portadown manager Matthew Tipton’s preview of the game
We look forward to a break in league action tonight to take on Newington in the league cup. Whilst we come into the game on the back of 3 defeats I’m not feeling too downhearted as the performances in the last 2 games have given me great belief that what we are doing is going to bring us the results that we need. The challenge now is to produce those same performances on a consistent basis.
We know that Newington will offer us a serious challenge tonight & we’ve gathered plenty of information on them so there will be no complacency on our behalf.
We should welcome Michael Ruddy back tonight after his dead leg but will be missing Reece Jordan & Sam Glenfield who are both away with NI U17s this week.
PSS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSOR – The Wiggins Family
The officials are – Referee – Mark Dillon / Assistant 1 – Andrew Nethery / Assistant 2 – Kieran Ennetta
Entrance to the game is by cash turnstile only with prices set at Adult £7, OAPs £5 & U16s £1