LATE WINNER SEES SKY BLUES HALT SLIDE
Ross Redman netted the late winner for Ballymena United as they halted their losing streak with victory over Portadown at Shamrock Park.
United started much the brighter of the two sides, creating early chances through Jude Winchester, saved by Jacob Carney, and Ryan Waide who fired wide.
Further openings came as the first half progressed as Paul McElroy plus Waide and Winchester again all threatened.
However the deadlock was broken in Portadown's favour on 28 minutes after Ben Tilney found Sam Warde on the edge of the box who, in turn, sent a side foot volley past Ross Glendinning into the top corner.
Ballymena responded well to going behind eventually levelling four minutes from the break courtesy of Shay McCartan who sent a sweetly struck right-foot drive beyond Carney into the bottom corner.
And the visitors might have edged in front soon after but Carney did well to make two quick saves to deny Sean Graham and McCartan again.
McCartan was a danger again on 55 minutes but, on this occasion, Carney produced a one-handed save before being called into once more again to deal with a low Winchester effort.
Portadown then enjoyed a purple patch with Luke Wilson finding himself through one-on-one but was matched by a great Glendinning stop before Lee Bonis connected with a Nathan Kerr cross but sent his effort just over.
At the other end Carney had to be alert to deny Waide from close range but he was finally beaten again with seven minutes remaining after Redman hooked home the winner following a scramble for the loose ball inside the box.
Portadown: Carney, McCallum, Finnegan, Salley, Bonis, Wilson, Guy, Kerr, Warde, Scannell, Tilney subs Buchanan (not used), McKeown (replaced Wilson 75), Lavery (not used), Murray (replaced Salley 84), Teggart (replaced arde 82), Conaty (not used), Healy (not used)
Ballymena United: Glendinning, Redman, Winchester, McElroy, McCartan, Waide, McGrory, Hume, Kelly, S. Graham, Wylie subs D. Graham (not used), T. Kane (replaced McCartan 90+2), Knowles (replaced Wylie 89), Ervin (not used), Beattie (not used), McCready (replaced Waide 82), Farquhar (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
