An emotional day for both clubs as they remembered club stalwarts and past heroes who had past away in the last 7 days.  Portadown fans stood and clapped as current heroes Neil McCafferty and Kevin Braniff appeared at the team line ups before kick-off with a large photo of former Ports midfielder Davy Mills who died last weekend in tragic circumstances. 

The game itself, failed to really take off, although young Ports striker Darren Murray lifted the atmosphere with a well taken double after Ballymena had opened the scoring through Mark Surgeoner within 3 minutes of the kick-off.  Murray’s equaliser came in the 15th minute from a McLellan flick on and he added his second 10 minutes before half time as he scored with a looping header which went over an advancing Ballymena Keeper Dwayne Nelson. 

The second half was a torrid affair with neither team creating many clear cut chances and the Ports seemingly content to see out the match at 2-1.  However any early thoughts of a home win were promptly dispatched when Ballymena were awarded a penalty when former Ports winger Ally Teggart was sent sprawling in the box after a clumsy challenge.  The wee winger dusted himself down to dispatch the spot kick past former teammate David Miskelly to give Ballymena a share of the spoils.

Portadown Team:

Miskelly

Casement-Ramsey Gartland–Redman

R Burns-O’Hara-McNeill-Tomelty

Murray-McLellan

Subs: McArdle, Patton, A Burns, Breen, Mackle