Ards 1 v 1 Portadown

As league leaders Portadown visited the Bangor Fuels Arena, Ards were without Craig McMillen and Ben Cushnie, with Kyle Calderwood and Caoimhin McConnell both returning to the squad. After 4 minutes of play a run and strike from the edge of the box by Eamon McAllister was well palmed away by Ben Pierce in the Portadown goal. Then, Stephen Murray’s strike from the far left was tipped over by Neeson as both sides pushed for an early goal. On 12 minutes the home side opened the scoring when an outstanding cross from David McAllister was powerfully headed home by Salou Jallow after evading his marker at the back post. 7 minutes later , Jallow continued his impressive first half performance when he cleared Stephen Teggart’s strike off the goal line to keep the game 1-0. Then Murray’s overhead kick was tipped over by Neeson to give Portadown a corner. After a scramble in front of goal from the corner, the chance was cleared with the first half finishing 1-0. 10 minutes into the 2nd half Murray couldn’t take advantage of a Neeson mistake after he failed to clear his lines and left the Ports striker with an empty net. 2 minutes later Jallow’s shot from the edge of the box was narrowly wide of the left hand post. Then TJ Murray’s strike from range was also off target minutes later. With 17 mins to go the away side scored the equaliser when, after multiple chances, Chris Crane’s cross to the far post found Lee Bonis who out-jumped Ards captain Johnny Taylor to find the back of the net with a header to make it 1-1. Portadown substitute Conall McGrandles then made Neeson produce a fine save after his strong attempt was goal bound. Entering the final stages the Portadown keeper produced a magnificent save to deny Michael McLellan’s looping header. Ards arguably had their best chances in the last five minutes, after Pierce failed to keep control of the ball with Dylan Wilson’s attempt to find the back of the empty net blocked by Ryan Carmichael. Then Kym Nelson’s header was saved by the away stopper before the game ended 1-1. So honours even at the Bangor Fuels Arena. Next up Dergview visit the Bangor Fuels Arena on Tuesday night with an 8.00 p.m. kick off. Starting eleven - Neeson, Young, McGovern, Taylor, Armstrong, E. McAllister, Nelson, Murray, D. McAllister, Jallow, McLellan. Subs used - Calderwood, Wilson, McConnell. Yellow cards - Kym Nelson, Michael Mclellan and Johnny Taylor.