Sports Direct Irish Premiership

Mourneview Park, Lurgan

Saturday 4^th April 2026

Glenavon scored a late equaliser to take a thoroughly deserved point against Portadown at windswept Mourneview Park.

Josh Ukek (9 mins) scored for the visitors. Substitute Peter Campbell (84 mins) equalised.

The Ports, playing with a wind advantage, made a positive start. Aaaron Traynor volleyed against the outside of a post after Ukek had created the opening with a headed flick on.

When Stephen Mallon lost possession just inside his own half, the ball broke to Ukek. The big striker dribbled it to the edge of Glenavon’s penalty area before beating Jacob Carney with a right foot shot.

Paul McGovern, the most skilful player on view, unloaded a shot which Alex Moore saved easily.

Eamon Fyfe hooked the ball into the penalty area and Ukek volleyed towards goal. Carney palmed it into the air and over the crossbar.

Mallon’s free kick from 20 yards hit the Portadown wall and was deflected over. Luke McGerrigan took the corner. His cross to the near post was met by Paddy Burns but the defender’s header was off target.

Five minutes later Mallon shot well wide.

At half-time Glenavon’s John Mountney and Peter Campbell replaced Luke McGerrigan and Stephen Mallon.

Mountney’s snapshot was high and wide.

Carney used his legs to block James Teelan’s right foot effort from point blank range after good work by Fyfe. It was the Ports’ only goal attempt of the half.

Sean Carlin released Nathaniel Ferris with a brilliant pass into space. With only Moore to beat, the Glentoran loanee let fly but the Portadown goalkeeper stopped with relative ease.

Moments later Paul McGovern brilliantly dribbled past Gary Thompson and unleashed a left foot shot which Moore saved at his near post.

During the next ten minute period, the Newry teenager had three attempts, all on target, from a range of distances. None seriously troubled Moore.

Conor Falls’s snapshot was not far wide.

Paul McGovern tested Moore with another accurate shot this time from an acute angle.

Substitute Charlie Lindsay’s goal bound attempt was blocked and his follow up effort partially cleared. Peter Campbell picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and attempted to recycle it but was fouled Traynor.

Campbell took the free kick. The Blues’ talisman blasted it through the wall and into the net with his left foot. It was a well merited equaliser.

The drama was not quite over. Deep in added time, Campbell received a second yellow card for a foul on Adam Towe and was sent off.

Glenavon’s fightback and the point it secured may prove to be very important.

GLENAVON: Carney, McMullan, Burns, McKeown, Murphy, Carlin, McGerrigan, McGovern, Ferris, Falls, Mallon, SUBS: Cartwright for Murphy (89 mins), Campbell for Mallon (half time), Lowe for Burns (79 mins), Gilmore (not used), Harkin (not used), Lindsay for Carlin (79 mins), Mountney for McGerrigan (half time).

Yellow Cards: Ferris (40’), McMullan (76’), Campbell (77’), Murphy (80’), Campbell (90+5’).

Red Card: Campbell (90+5’).

PORTADOWN: Moore, Chapman, Traynor, MacKinnon, Altintop, Wilson, Minzamba, Fyfe, Ukek, Teelan, Thompson, SUBS: Tetteh (not used), Scott (not used), McCartan for Teelan (74 mins), Annett (not used), Towe for Minzamba (60 mins), B. Quinn (not used), Carson for Thompson (74 mins).

Yellow Cards: Fyfe (28’), Minzamba (30’), Chapman (36’), Wilson (77’).

REFEREE: Shane Andrews (Comber).