Ballinamallard 1-2 Portadown

Portadown are third in the table following this narrow defeat of Ballinamallard United at Ferney Park.

Ronnie McFall's side grabbed the game by the scruff of the net with two goals midway through the first half.

First, on 26 minutes, Darren Murray opened the scoring with a half-volley into the bottom corner after Mark McAllister had flicked the ball into his path from the right.

Then, just after the half-hour, Ken Oman made it 2-0 with a bullet header from Ross Redman's cross. However, the Mallards reduced the arrears three minutes from the break through Liam Martin after he finished off a Jason McCartney delivery from the left.

Buoyed by this the Mallards pressed for large periods of the second half and, indeed, came close twice through McCartney when he turned the ball wide at the back post before sending another 30-yard effort over.

But the Ports held on to claim the points that kept them in touch with the leaders.