Portadown, minus McCafferty Braniff and O’Hara, looked a pale shadow of the team which played so well in Europe this season as they struggled to make any headway against a well organised and resilient Ballinamallard team at Ferney Park this afternoon.

The first half was a dour battle with neither team creating anything in the way of goal scoring chances as both defences held firm.   The Ports injury woes worsened as they lost Richard Lecky with what looked like a broken nose in the latter stages of the first half and Garry Breen with a  hip injury early in the second half; they were replaced by Murray and Ramsey respecitvely.

The second half commenced as the first half had ended, with both teams cancelling each other out in midfield.  However, Ballinamallard made the vital breakthrough with two quickfire goals in the 70th minute and the 72nd minute through Campbell and Curran to rock the Ports.  Despite increasing possession in the last remaining minutes of the match there was no way back for the Ports as they failed to break down the home defence in which Mark Stafford was outstanding.  

Portadown Team:

Miskelly

Burns-Gartland-Breen-Redman

Mackle-Casement-McNeill-

Burns -Lecky-Tomelty

Subs: McArdle, McLellan, Ramsey, Adams, Murray