Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow (Sat 25 Sept) when we take on Dungannon Swifts at Shamrock Park, kick off 3pm.
Dungannon Swifts come into the game following a 3-1 defeat to Cliftonville at Stangmore Park on Saturday, their third straight defeat in the Premiership meaning they’ve yet to pick up a point this season. Portadown suffered a 1-0 loss at Carrick Rangers last time out – their fourth straight league defeat but do have a point on the board following the opening day draw with Glenavon.
It was a real summer of upheaval at Stangmore Park after finishing bottom of the pile last campaign with no fewer than 11 players departing the Swifts – Dougie Wilson, Daniel Hughes, Fra Brennan, Sam Johnston, Callum Byers, Roy Carroll, Michael Carvill, Alan Teggart, Mark Patton, Dylan O’Kane and Rory Patterson while in came Aaron Canning, Michael Quinn, Luke McKendry, Darragh McBrien, Keith Cowan, James Knowles, Joe McCready, Sean McCarron, Michael Glynn (loan) and Alex Moore (loan).
Portadown have a good recent record against Dean Shiels men winning four out of four last season against the County Tyrone club with Matthew Tipton’s men winning the last meeting between the clubs in May by 4 goals to 2 with the Ports strikes coming from Adam Salley (2), Lee Bonis and Adam McCallum. In fact Adam Salley found the net three times in four meetings against Dungannon Swifts last season with Lee Bonis and Adam McCallum each scoring twice in the 4 games.
Here’s what Portadown manager Matthew Tipton had to say ahead of tomorrows game
We approach tomorrow’s game with the same mind-set & attitude that we approached the previous home game v Linfield with. For those that were at game they will know that was with a fearless attacking attitude that brought us so close to getting the result we wanted. We went to Carrick last week again with that attitude & but for the width of the woodwork the result would have been so much different in what was a tight game.
What we can’t do now is become disheartened, that’s not just the players & staff it’s everyone as a collective to try to be as positive as possible to drive each other on.
With no midweek game for the first team it’s enabled us to get onto the training pitch for 3 really good sessions & also allowed some players to get game time on Monday night for the reserves & it was good especially for our forward players to get amongst the goals as that’s always a boost.
In terms of injuries we seem to be clearing the treatment room of niggles now with both Barney McKeown & Chris Lavery back into full training so we will welcome them back into the Matchday fold tomorrow.
The officials are – Referee – Tim Marshall / Assistant 1 – Andrew Nethery / Assistant 2 – Adam Jeffrey/ 4th official – Ross Dunlop
Changes to the ticketing arrangements for future games at Shamrock Park were announced during the week with a cash gate now also available (for home supporters only) at each game at Shamrock Park (except in the event where a game has sold out online in advance of the game as is possible with the Boxing Day fixture against Glenavon) alongside the online ticket option. The booking fee has also been removed from the online ticket prices.
Also Saturday’s game against Dungannon Swifts will see ‘Primary School Saturday’ make it’s debut with the club offering 200 free match tickets to primary school children from the greater Portadown area. Tickets are on a first come first served basis, a paying adult can bring up to three primary aged children for free and each child will receive a small treat to eat at half time.
Adult online tickets are available at https://tickets.portadownfc.co.uk/product/adult-ticket-main-stand-dungannon/
Concession online tickets are available at https://tickets.portadownfc.co.uk/product/concession-ticket-main-stand-dungannon/
FREE Primary school tickets are available at https://tickets.portadownfc.co.uk/product/free-primary-school-child-tickets-portadown-vs-dungannon/
Saturday will also be a sombre occasion as we remember former Portadown player Kevin McKeever who passed away earlier this week. Kevin played for the club between 1987 and 1993 making 189 appearances and was part of the 89/90 & 90/91 title winning squads.
We Are Ports TV LIVE will be streaming tomorrows game live via https://www.performatv.com/club?club=portadown-fc
PSS Man of the Match Sponsor – Lee Leckey
Last Five Head to Head (All competitions)
- Tuesday 25 May 2021 – Portadown 4 (Salley x2, Bonis, McCallum) Dungannon Swifts 2 (Convie, Campbell)
- Tuesday 13 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Salley) Dungannon Swifts 0
- Saturday 20 March 2021 – Dungannon Swifts 0 Portadown 1 (Bonis)
- Tuesday 8th December 2020 – Dungannon Swifts 0 Portadown 3 (Teggart, McCallum, McKeown)
- Saturday 29 April 2017 – Dungannon Swifts 2 (Fitzpatrick, Hegarty) Portadown 0
Last Five Head to Head at Shamrock Park (All competitions)
- Tuesday 25 May 2021 – Portadown 4 (Salley x2, Bonis, McCallum) Dungannon Swifts 2 (Convie, Campbell)
- Tuesday 13 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Salley) Dungannon Swifts 0
- Saturday 25 March 2017 – Portadown 0 Dungannon Swifts 1 (McMahon)
- Saturday 17 December 2016 – Portadown 2 (McAllister, Hughes) Dungannon Swifts 0
- Saturday 16 April 2016 – Portadown 1 (N.Ferris) Dungannon Swifts 2 (Mitchell x2)