The Ports return to action this Saturday when we make the short journey to face Loughgall at Lakeview Park in the Sport Direct Premiership, kick off 3pm.
The Ports come into the game off the back of a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Annagh United in the Irish Cup while Loughgall’s game against Institute was postponed last Saturday meaning they’ve yet to play in 2025, their last game was a 3-1 defeat to Coleraine on 30th December 2024.
The last time the two sides met was back in October 2024 when an early free kick from Steven McCullough sealed all three points for the Ports in a closely contested game with Loughgall having a late equaliser ruled out for offside.
The two clubs last met at Lakeview Park in August 2024 in a pulsating game that ended with the spoils shared in a 2-2 draw. Portadown had taken an early lead through Ryan Mayse before Nathaniel Ferris equalised 5 minutes later, Josh Ukek would put the Ports back in front in the second half only for Tiernan Kelly to peg Niall Currie’s men back once again.
Both clubs have been busy since the January transfer window opened with the Villagers adding defender James Carroll, midfielders Fra McCaffrey and Matthew O’Brien, as well as striker Robbie Mahon.
Portadown will be without the suspended Steven McCullough and Ben Wylie while Luke Wilson and Eoghan McCawl both remain on the long term injury list.
Portadown are unbeaten in their last eleven league games against Loughgall (8 wins 3 draws) with three of the last four league games at Lakeview Park between the two sides ending in draws.
Loughgall come into the game without a Premiership victory in over two months and have only picked up 5 points from the last 27 available, however apart from Linfield they are the only side to take league points off Glentoran since mid November grabbing a point in a 2-2 draw at Lakeview Park.
For Loughgall’s last competitive victory over Portadown you’ve to go back to January 2009 and for the last win against the Ports at Lakeview Park it’s September 2008.
Written by Bobbie Harrison
Officials | Ross Dunlop, Stephen Bell, Brian Wilson, Tim Marshall
Last 5 Head to Head games:
Portadown 1 (McCullough) Loughgall 0
Loughgall 2 (Ferris, Kelly) Portadown 2 (Mayse, Ukek)
Portadown 2 (McCawl, Fyfe) Loughgall 0
Loughgall 2 (Andrade, Hoey) Portadown 3 (Russell, Mayse 2)
Loughgall 0 Portadown 2 (Salley, Bonis)
Last 5 Head to Head at Lakeview Park:
Loughgall 2 (Ferris, Kelly) Portadown 2 (Mayse, Ukek)
Loughgall 2 (Andrade, Hoey) Portadown 3 (Russell, Mayse 2)
Loughgall 0 Portadown 2 (Salley, Bonis)
Loughgall 0 Portadown 0
Loughgall 1 (Liggett) Portadown 1 (Salley)