PORTS AND VILLAGERS BEGIN SEASON WITH SCORELESS DRAW
Loughgall and Portadown cancelled each other out to earn a point apiece from a scoreless draw at Lakeview Park.
The Ports came close to grabbing the early advantage when, after six minutes, Christopher Crane delivered a cross from the left to Adam Salley at the back post but his goalbound effort was well touched over by keeper Gareth Buchanan.
But it proved to be a first half of few chances with neither side creating much in front of goal.
Loughgall's best opportunity perhaps came via a Dale Malone curling pass into the path of Peter Campbell before Ports keeper Bobby Edwards came out to collect while the Ports had another moment of promise right on the half-time whistle when Chris Lavery played a great ball into the box only for Aaron Duke to fail to make a strong enough connection.
The limited openings kept to a trickle after the break before Salley did find the net for Portadown from Lavery's cross just after the hour but this was ruled out offside.
Campbell had a chance for the Villagers as the game drifted into the final ten minutes only to flash the ball wide of the target.
Loughgall: Buchanan, Kerr, Rea, Brennan, Lyttle, Ferguson, Malone, Dallas, Gibson, Campbell, Douglas subs Ewart (not used), D. McCullough (replaced Dallas 87), S. McCullough (not used), Copeland (not used), Hoey (replaced Malone 77)
Portadown: Edwards, Hall, Crane, Finnegan, Lavery, Salley, Duke, Wilson, Carmichael, McNally, Teggart subs McCallum (not used), Bradley (replaced Carmichael 57), McGrandles (not used), Tipton (not used), Ferris (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
