Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action tomorrow (Sat 29 Jan) when we face Larne at Inver Park, kick off 5:30pm.
Larne come into the game following a 3-0 victory over Warrenpoint Town on Tuesday evening with Portadown old boy Lee Bonis notching his first goal for his new club since his move from Shamrock Park earlier this month, Portadown on the other hand lost out to Crusaders with Ben Kennedy scoring a last minute winner for the Hatchet Men to secure a 1-0 victory.
Portadown’s new manager Paul Doolin will take charge of his first game tomorrow after being a spectator in the stands on Tuesday evening, ironically Paul made his Portadown playing debut against Larne back in August 1990 in a 2-1 win at Shamrock Park with goals from Brian Strain and Stevie Cowan.
The last time the two teams met was back in November with the game ending 2-2 at Shamrock Park, Portadown had led twice through Adam Salley but a Ronan Hale penalty and a last minute equaliser from David McDaid stopped the Ports from securing their first home league win of the season. Prior to that Larne were 3-2 winners at Shamrock Park in September with goals from Dean Jarvis, Mark Randall and Lee Lynch – Ruairi Croskery and Greg Hall were on target for the Ports.
Portadown’s last victory away to Larne came in our opening Championship game of the 2017/18 season when we won 3-0 at Taylors Avenue thanks to goals from Niall Henderson, Matty Hazley and Kyle McVey, Larne were ground sharing with Carrick Rangers at the time due to ongoing works at Inver Park. Portadown’s last win at Inver Park came back in January 2017 in the Irish Cup when a debut goal from Adam Foley as well as a Stephen Hughes goal secured Portadown’s place in the next round.
This is what Portadown manager Paul Doolin had to say about tomorrow evenings game against Larne
Tomorrow will be a tough game as we come up against one of the better teams in the Danske Bank Premiership but I’m looking forward to it.
I thought we were very unfortunate on Tuesday evening and showed more about ourselves in the second half from an attacking point of view after being defensive in the first half.
The officials are – Referee – Raymond Crangle / Assistant 1 – Paul Robinson / Assistant 2 – Stephen Donaldson / 4th official – Diarmuid Harrigan
Online tickets for the game are available via https://www.larnefc.com/tickets/ – Physical tickets will be on sale from the Larne Club Shop on the Inver Road
Supporters Club Buses travelling
- Eden Reds – Departing Gary’s Bar at 4:15pm
- PFC Travel Club – Departing Shamrock Park at 3:45pm & Tiplers at 4pm (Seats available)
- Richhill Reds – Departing Richhill at 2pm & Portadown at 2:15pm
Form (LAST FIVE GAMES – LEAGUE GAMES ONLY – MOST RECENT GAME LAST)
- Larne – W, W, L, L, W (5th in DBP)
- Portadown – L, L, D, L, L (11th in DBP)
Last Five Head to Head
- Saturday 27 November 2021 – Portadown 2 (Salley x2) Larne 2 (Hale (p), McDaid)
- Saturday 4 September 2021 – Portadown 2 (Croskery, Hall) Larne 3 (Jarvis, Randall, Lynch)
- Tuesday 20 April 2021 – Portadown 2 (Teggart, Bonis) Larne 1 (Robinson)
- Tuesday 6 April 2021 – Portadown 1 (Bonis) Larne 2 (Mitchell (pen), Hale)
- Tuesday 9 February 2021 – Larne 2 (Mottley-Henry, Hale) Portadown 2 (Guy, Bonis)
- Last Five Head at Inver Park
- Tuesday 9 February 2021 – Larne 2 (Mottley-Henry, Hale) Portadown 2 (Guy, Bonis)
- Saturday 6 April 2019 – Larne 3 (Cosgrove, Tilney, McDaid) Portadown 0
- Saturday 22 September 2018 – Larne 2 (Donnelly, McDaid) Portadown 2 (Salley. McCallum)
- Saturday 12 August 2017 – Larne 0 Portadown 3 (N.Henderson, Hazley, McVey)
- Saturday 7 January 2017 – Larne 1 (McCabe) Portadown 2 (Foley, Hughes)