Portadown

5

Ballymena United

5

TEN GOALS SHARED AT SHAMROCK PARK

17th Jan 2015

Portadown and Ballymena United shared no fewer than ten goals in a hugely entertaining encounter at Shamrock Park. 

The Ports raced into the lead after just three minutes when Peter McMahon's cross was chested down by Darren Murray before being laid off for Gary Twigg to fire home.

But, within a minute, United were back on level terms when, from a throw-in, Matthew Tipton cut inside to finish with a left-foot shot.

However, on 12 minutes, McMahon brought the ball in from the right before delivering a low shot through a crowded penalty area into the bottom corner to restore Portadown's advantage.

Twigg then doubled his tally for the afternoon on 28 minutes after making the most of some poor defending to go one-on-one with 'keeper Stuart Addis to fire low into the bottom corner.

The visitors came back into the game once more three minutes from the break courtesy of Darren Boyce when he pounced on the rebound from a blocked Allan Jenkins effort.

The outcome looked beyond doubt on 68 minutes when Twigg grabbed his hat-trick after a Tony Kane slip allowed him in to fire between Addis' legs.

Glenn Ferguson's side had other ideas and duly pulled another goal back on 79 minutes thanks to Johnny Taylor's glancing header from Kane's free-kick.

Then, three minutes after that, Murray knocked home Portadown's fifth after literally walking the ball over the line after racing clear to round Addis.

The scoring continued on 84 minutes with Tipton getting the final touch to another Kane set piece before, with three minutes remaining, Jenkins capped a remarkable afternoon to beat David Miskelly from Kane's right-sided delivery.

Portadown: Miskelly, Casement, Redman, Ramsey, Breen, P. McMahon, Mackle, Murray, Gault, Twigg, Garrett subs Brennan (not used), McElroy (not used), M. McMahon (not used), Conaty (not used), Lyttle (replaced Casement 46)

Ballymena United: Addis, T. Kane, Munster, Taylor, McBride, McCaul, Jenkins, Thompson, McCutcheon, Boyce, Tipton subs Ervin (replaced McCaul 64), McAllister (not used), Gawley (not used), Cushley (replaced McCutcheon 82), Teggart (not used)

Referee: Ian McNabb

Attendance: 691

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