FRIEL DOUBLE KEEPS PORTS HOPES ALIVE
Portadown defeated Carrick Rangers at Shamrock Park to give their hopes of avoiding the automatic drop a huge boost.
Niall Currie's side are just two points adrift of Dungannon Swifts, who occupy the play-off spot, with the sides going head-to-head next week.
The Ports moved in front on 14 minutes when Cathair Friel found the bottom right corner with a curling free-kick from the edge of the area.
Then, just after the half-hour, Josh Archer made it 2-0 after pouncing on a loose ball, taking it around keeper Ross Glendinning and slotting into the open net.
Carrick pulled one back on 59 minutes through Ben Tilney after reacting quickest from close range to a Lloyd Anderson effort that had been pushed out.
But, with four minutes remaining, the Ports restored their two-goal advantage with Friel's second of the afternoon - a drive into the bottom left after finding space inside the area.
Portadown: Barr, Wilson, Balde, Russell, McKeown, Chapman, McNally, Archer, Rodgers, McCawl, Friel subs Mastny, Upton, Stedman, Teggart, Igiehon, Walker, O’Sullivan
Carrick Rangers: Ross Glendinning, Forsythe, Stewart, Ervin, Cushley, Mitchell, McGuckin, Cherry, Reece Glendinning, Maciulaitis, Tilney subs Hogg, Surgenor, Gawne, Kalla, Nixon, Dupree, Anderson
Substitution 
Substitution 
