Portadown finally laid to rest the hoodoo that has haunted them at Ballymena Showgrounds this last two seasons with a hard-earned 4-2 victory this afternoon.  It all started quite comfortably for the Ports as they took an early lead through a Gartland header in the 7th minute.  The lead was doubled in the 26th minute when Tipton pulled the ball back from the byeline for strike partner Kevin Braniff to thunder the ball home from 12 yards.  Then the Ports went to sleep and Ballymena capitalised on some sloppy defending when former Ports Ally Teggart slotted home at the back post in the 29th minute.  This goal lfited the homeside and 10 minutes later they were back on level terms when another former Ports favourite Gary McCutcheon went down in the box under a challenge from goalscorer Gartland.  Ref Hetherington pointed to the spot, and handed a straight red to Gartland despite the protests of all the Ports players and the big Monaghan man who was clearly incensed by the decision.  McCutcheon picked himself up and cooly slotted past Miskelly to square the match 2-2 at half time.

The Ports came out for the second half and were clearly in no mood to settle for the draw.  Sean Mackle slotted in at right back for Keith O’Hara who joined Ramsey in the heart of the defense.  Mackle made an immediate impact as two minutes after the kick-off  he started a move from the back and ran on to a delightful knockdown from Braniff and finished in style as he burst through the home defence to hammer the ball past Drummond.

The Ports fans went wild with delight and the icing was added to the cake when Kevin Braniff headed home a fourth in the 86th minute from a wicked outswinging delivery from McCabe.   A superb goal to cap off another wonderful team performance from the Ports and another well deserved 3 points in the bag.

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