Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow afternoon (Sat 18 Sept) when we take on Carrick Rangers at the Loughshore Hotel Arena, kick off 3pm.

Carrick Rangers are coming off the back of a 2-1 extra time victory over Championship side Dergview on Tuesday evening in the League Cup while also on Tuesday evening Portadown were 2-0 winners over Newington in the same competition. In Danske Bank Premiership matters Carrick Rangers come into the game after an impressive 4-0 win at Glenavon on Saturday, a game marred and blew up by the referee early due to a serious injury to Carrick defender Lee McNulty, while Portadown were beaten 3-2 by reigning champions Linfield at Shamrock Park.

New Carrick Rangers manager Stuart King has wasted no time in putting his own stamp on things since his appointment in the summer bringing in Jim Ervin, David Cushley, Lee McNulty, former Portadown loanee Ben Tilney, Emmett McGuckin, Steven Gordon, Alex Gawne (loan) and Stewart Nixon while departing were Cathair Friel, Caolan Loughran, Jordan Jenkins, Gerard Storey, Lee Chapman, Chris Rodgers and Reece Neale.

The last time the two clubs met was back in May 2021 at Shamrock Park with the Ports running out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Lee Bonis & Adam Salley, the last time the clubs met at the Loughshore Hotel Arena, in March 2021, Portadown were on the end of a 5-3 defeat – Ports had taken a 2-0 lead through Ben Guy and Lee Bonis but Carrick rallied back to pick up all 3 points. Portadown actually took the lead in both games against Carrick Rangers last season at the Loughshore Hotel Arena but would lose both games – 4-1 & 5-3, while at Shamrock Park Ports picked up 6 points out of 6 against the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign.

Portadown have a wretched recent record at the Loughshore Hotel Arena losing the last six in a row with our last victory in Carrickfergus coming back in April 2016 when a last gasp Garry Breen strike went a long way to securing our Premiership safety that season.

Here’s Portadown manager Matthew Tipton’s preview of tomorrows game

We go to Carrick tomorrow in fairly good spirits even though our league results haven’t gone the way we have wanted so far this season. What gives us the hope is the manner of our performances all over the pitch & the knowledge that the players are implementing our game plan albeit without the end result which is the most important thing in football. What we have to do is have full belief that those results will come as long as we perform to the standards we have so far this season.

In terms of injuries we seem to be clearing up now with Chris Lavery & Barney McKeown getting put through their paces with Scott last night so they should be back into full training next week. Oran Jackson has a slight hip/groin problem that flares up every now & then so it’s a case of managing that & using him when it’s feeling 100%.  Adam Salley missed Tuesday through illness but was back with us last night. While Sam Glenfield & Reece Jordan were also back after their few days  away with the NI U17 squad.

Ruairi Croskery has had an initial x-ray which shows no fracture but there is so much swelling we will have to wait for that to go down before we send him for a scan to assess the ligament damage.

With this being our first Saturday away game I’m looking forward to a big crowd making the trip to Carrick. Throughout my time at the club our away following has always been most impressive & it’s a massive help to the players when they can hear the backing we get away from home where we know all the games are tough.

 

Tomorrows game against Carrick Rangers at the Loughshore Hotel Arena will just be pay at the gate with no tickets required

 

The officials are – Referee – Steven Gregg / Assistant 1 – Ryan Kelsey  / Assistant 2 – Gavin Hegarty / 4th official – Glenn Buchanan

 

Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)

  • Saturday 15 May – Portadown 2 (Bonis, Salley (p)) Carrick Rangers 1 (McMullan)
  • Saturday 10 April 2021 – Portadown 2 (Tilney, Bonis) Carrick Rangers 0
  • Tuesday 23rd March 2021 – Carrick Rangers 5 (Kelly, Friel x2, Loughran (p), Cherry) Portadown 3 (Guy, Bonis, Salley)
  • Tuesday 10 November 2020 – Carrick Rangers 4 (Loughran, Smith x3) Portadown 1 (Lavery)
  • Tuesday 30 April 2019 – Carrick Rangers 2 (McCallum og, Nixon) Portadown 0

 

Last Five Head to Head at the Loughshore Arena (All competitions)

  • Tuesday 23 March 2021 – Carrick Rangers 5 (Kelly, Friel x2, Loughran (p), Cherry)  Portadown 3 (Guy, Bonis, Salley)
  • Tuesday 10 November 2020 – Carrick Rangers 4 (Loughran, Smith x3) Portadown 1 (Lavery)
  • Tuesday 30 April 2019 – Carrick Rangers 2 (McCallum og, Nixon) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 27 April 2019 – Carrick Rangers 4 (McGeown, Strain x2, McMillen) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 22 December 2018 – Carrick Rangers 2 (Kelly, Smith) Portadown 0