Goals from Kevin Braniff (72mins) and a penalty from Neil McCafferty (82mins) sealed the points for the Ports at Mourneview this afternoon. 

Both teams struggled to come to terms with the bumpy pitch and the gale force wind in the first half, but it was Portadown who had the best chances of the half as the Glenavon defence came under severe pressure at times as Braniff, Tipton and Tomelty all had efforts cleared or blocked inside the Glenavon box.  The Ports should have taken the lead mid-way through the first half, but Braniff was denied by an outstanding save from Davy O’Hare in the Glenavon goals after he whipped in a free kick from just outside the box.  Ports striker Matty Tipton had to go off with a rib muscle tear after a tackle from Jay Magee.   He was replaced by Conor McCloskey.

The second half saw a much more even game with Glenavon coming more into the game.  Former Ports favorite Kyle Neill had the best chance for the home team when he saw his curling free kick cannon off the Portadown post with Miskelly well beaten.   However it was the Ports who opened the scoring in the 72nd minute with a screamer of a goal from Braniff.  McCloskey was sent down the right wing and he lifted a high ball into the box.  As the Glenavon defence stood and watched, Braniff ghosted in and volleyed an unstoppable shot off the post and past O’Hare.   The away support bust into raptures as Braniff celebrated in style   of the delirious reds supporters.  The match was put beyond doubt after McCabe was rugby tackled in the Glenavon box by Kyle Neill  as he raced in for a Braniff square ball.  McCafferty calmly rolled the ball past O’Hare after wrong footing the Glenavon keeper. 

The match ended with minor skirmishes as a handful of Glenavon supporters threw missiles at a section of the Portadown support.  Calm was quickly restored by stewards and police.

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