Portadown u20s are currently sitting 10th in the table after playing 12 games, an opening day 2-2 draw against cross borough rivals Glenavon got a point on the board but that was followed up with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Crusaders. The young Ports bounced back with draws against Larne and Linfield before thumping Carrick Rangers 9-0 at Shamrock Park. A defeat to Dungannon Swifts was followed up by draws against Warrenpoint Town and Cliftonville. A defeat against Ballymena United and a victory over Coleraine rounded out October . So far in November the Ports u20s have seen mixed results after a reverse v Linfield was followed up by a 0-0 draw away to Carrick Rangers last night (17th Nov).
Ports u20s Goal Chart to date:
5 – I Rutkowski,
3 – S Glenfield, A Salley, J McCullough
2 – H Anderson, S Cochrane, M Creighton, J Williamson
1 – A Henning, N McCann, T Smyth, I Baird, M Robinson, H Murphy
Portadown u18s however have got off to a better start with 19 points from their opening 11 games, in August they went unbeaten through three games, with wins over Warrenpoint Town & Crusaders following an opening day draw with Dungannon Swifts. September brought a mixed bag of results however with wins against Newry City and Glentoran either side of defeats to Glenavon and Ballinamallard United, then it was mixed fortunes again in October with only the one win coming against Dungannon Swifts followed by two disappointing defeats to Crusaders and Warrenpoint Town.
So far, November has only seen one league fixture with the young Ports coming out 4-0 winners over Newry City, but that came after an impressive victory in the Harry Cavan Youth Cup against Larne where the Ports ran out 2-0 winners meaning they will now face Glentoran in the Quarter Final.
Ports u18 Coach Dave Marsden commented: “After a strong start, we have had a mixed bag of results in the league but recently had a great performance in the Harry Cavan Cup against Larne, a day with tough conditions the lads put in a performance that deservedly got them through to the Quarter Final. We got back to winning ways last time out against Newry City which was important ahead of this weekends Mid Ulster Derby v Glenavon. Our aim now is to secure a top 4 spot in which will mean we play the top 4 teams in Section A when the league splits in December.”
Ports u18s Goal Chart to date:
3 – Noah McCann
2 – Joe Williamson, Igor Rutkowski, Jamie Donnell
1 – Zach Cowan, Charlie McCrory, James McCammon