Portadown are back in Danske Bank Premiership action this Saturday (11 February) when we take on Ballymena United at the Showgrounds, kick off 3pm.

Last time out Portadown were beaten 3-0 by Glentoran at Shamrock Park in the Irish Cup while Ballymena United progressed to the quarter finals with a 4-1 win over Newington. In Premiership matters both sides suffered heavy defeats in their last games, the Ports going down 6-1 to Linfield while Ballymena United were beaten 4-0 by Cliftonville.

The last time the two teams met was back in December 2022 at Shamrock Park with the Ports picking up all 3 points thanks to a goal from Josh Archer, while on Portadown’s previous trip to the Showgrounds in October 2022 Ballymena United ran out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from David McDaid.

Ballymena have won thirteen of the last sixteen meetings in all competitions between the two clubs including putting the Ports out of the Irish Cup in 2019/20 & 2020/21 & the League Cup in 2017/18. The Ports  have lost on their last 10 visits to the Showgrounds with the last success at the home of Ballymena United coming all the way back in April 2016 and a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Ken Oman and Matty Parker.

Portadown manager Niall Currie had the following to say

We understand how important this month is, we’ve an opportunity to pick points up in my opinion.

It’s been a seriously tough run of games and I think everyone knows that, however the support has been fantastic and have kept behind us even though it’s been a tough five or six weeks. We come into a run of games now where we feel we’ve opportunities so we’ll knuckle down, get the heads down and have set a target to the players and it’s starts on Saturday against Ballymena United.

I felt we fully deserved our victory against Ballymena Utd earlier in the season and probably should have went into the second half with more goals so we weren’t getting it so tight towards the end of the game but we expected that.

Ballymena United’s home form is fantastic and they’re winning a lot of football matches up there so we realise it’s going to be very very difficult but we’ll just concentrate on being at our very very best and then we’ll see what happens.

Billy Stedman has just returned to training however Greg Moorehouse will miss out with illness but bar Greg we have everyone available.

In regards to Aaron Canning, he has been extremely unwell these past few weeks, we had him down at training and he was making progress after being out for a long time but unfortunately illness struck which has resulted in him spending around ten days in hospital – we’ve told Aaron to take his time and we as a club will be here for him as we know how good he is and once he’s back on his feet again, which could be next season, we’ll certainly be getting him back on board. It’s been disappointing as we know what he could have brought to the team in regards to leadership and quality at the back but all we can do is keep in touch with him while he recovers and hopefully we’ll see him in a Portadown shirt soon.

 

The officials are – Referee – Gareth Stewart / Assistant 1 – Adam Jeffrey  / Assistant 2 – Gavin Hegarty  / 4th official – Andrew Davey

 

Form (Premiership Only – Latest game last)

  • Ballymena United – W-W-L-D-L
  • Portadown – L-D-L-L-L

 

Last Five Head to Head

  • Saturday 10 December 2022 – Portadown 1 (Archer) Ballymena United 0
  • Saturday 8 October 2022 – Ballymena United 2 (McDaid x2) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 16 April 2022 – Ballymena United 2 (McElroy (p), McCullough) Portadown 1 (Stedman)
  • Saturday 12 March 2022 – Portadown 1 (Salley) Ballymena United 0
  • Saturday 1 January 2022 – Ballymena Utd 4 (Winchester, Parkhouse x2, Redman) Portadown 0

 

Last Five Head to Head at the Showgrounds (All competitions)

  • Saturday 8 October 2022 – Ballymena United 2 (McDaid x2) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 16 April 2022 – Ballymena United 2 (McElroy (p), McCullough) Portadown 1 (Stedman)
  • Saturday 1 January 2022 – Ballymena Utd 4 (Winchester, Parkhouse x2, Redman) Portadown 0
  • Saturday 29 May 2021 – Ballymena Utd 4 (McCartan, Hume, Keeley, Harpur) Portadown 2 (Croskery, Warde)
  • Tuesday 27 April 2021 – Ballymena United 4 (McElroy x2, Waide, McCartan (p)) Portadown 1 (Bonis)

 

Online tickets for the game are available via https://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/tickets/index_away.php

Entry for all supporters is via Warden Street and Slemish Drive due to the temporary closure of the ECOS Roundabout entrance. Stewards will be on hand to direct supporters.


SUPPORTERS CLUBS TRAVELLING:

  • Eden Reds – Departing Gary’s Bar at 1:30pm
  • PFC Travel Club – Departing Shamrock Park at 1:15pm with pick ups at Gary’s Bar, Tipler’s & Lough Road (Lurgan bus stop) – Limited spaces for non members
  • Richhill Reds – Departing the Square in Richhill at 1:15pm & Portadown at 1:30pm
  • Shamrock Reds leaving Shamrock Park at 1:30pm – Non members welcome