McCARTAN AND McELROY HELP SKY BLUES TO THE WIN
Ballymena United's current unbeaten run stretched to five games with victory over Portadown at The Showgrounds.
The Sky Blues started brightly, moving in front as early as the sixth minute through Shay McCartan who sent a spectacular 30-yard free-kick past Jacob Carney.
Portadown levelled ten minutes later. Lee Bonis beat United keeper Jordan Williamson to a long punt into the box with the ball eventually falling for Luke Wilson to lob into the net.
McCartan had a couple of opportunities to restore Ballymena's lead midway through the first half while, for the Ports, Oisin Conaty fired wide from the edge of the box.
Conaty came close again later in the half only to just fail to connect to Chris Lavery's cross at the back post but Ballymena looked the more likely to add to the scoring with Jude Winchester and Joe McCready both having chances.
Conaty did have the ball in the net on the hour but the 'goal' was ruled out following a foul on Williamson.
However, Ballymena's winner came not long after that. Kevin Healy was adjudged to have fouled McCready inside the box and from the spot-kick that followed Paul McElroy confidently stepped up to send a left-foot strike beyond Carney.
Ballymena United: Williamson, Redman, Winchester, McElroy, McCartan, Waide, McGrory, Ervin, Keeley, Kelly, McCready subs Glendinning (not used), T. Kane (replaced McCartan 78), McKeown (not used), Harpur (not used), Graham (replaced McGrory 35), Wylie (replaced McCready 74), Beattie (not used)
Portadown: Carney, McCallum, Lavery, Bonis, Wilson, Teggart, Conaty, Kerr, Warde, Healy, Tilney subs Buchanan (not used), McKeown (not used), Tipton (not used), Murray (not used), Croskery (replaced Teggart 77), Guy (replaced Conaty 85), Glenfield (replaced Lavery 77)
Substitution 
Substitution 
