PORTS EXTEND CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD TO FOUR POINTS
Two goals either side of the interval against Dergview extended Portadown’s lead at the top of the Bluefin Sport Championship at Darragh Park.
Ports captain Luke Wilson had a strong claim for a penalty turned down after just three minutes when he collided with Matthew Buchanan, but it was waved away by referee Gareth Stewart.
Luke Wilson and Conal McGrandles combined on 40 minutes to open the scoring for the Ports. George Tipton’s corner fell to McGrandles who needed two attempts to make connection with the ball, his second attempt from six yards out cannoned off Luke Wilson and wrong footed the goalkeeper to find its way into the net.
Three minutes into the second half and Portadown doubled their advantage. Tipton’s long ball wasn’t properly cleared by Maxwell which allowed Stephen Teggart to nip in and lay the ball off to Lee Bonis – the striker cut in from the edge of the box and drilled an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
Dergview hadn’t given up the fight as an audacious 25-yard chip from substitute Philip Wallace almost caught Edwards off guard, but the American stopper tipped the ball over to safety.
The home side gave themselves a late consolation when Paul Smith picked up the ball 30 yards from goal before looking up and drilling the ball home off the inside of the post despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Bobby Edwards.
Despite the late scare, Portadown held out for the three points which extended their lead at the top of the Bluefin Sport Championship table to four points.
Dergview: A. Buchanan, McGeehan, Falconer, Maxwell, M. Buchanan, Callaghan, McConnell, A. Buchanan, McGlynn, Smith, A. Sproule subs McNulty, Wallace, Young, Doherty, I. Sproule
Portadown: Edwards, Hall, Crane, Finnegan, Salley, McGrandles, Tipton, Wilson, McNally, Teggart, Bonis. subs McCallum, Bradley, Glackin, Carmichael, Ferris.
Substitution 
Substitution 
