Irish Premiership: Ballinamallard Utd 1-2 Portadown

Portadown moved up to third in the Irish Premiership thanks to this victory over the Mallards.

All three goals came in the first half at Ferney Park with Ports striker Darren Murray slotting in before Ken Oman's backpost header made it 2-0.

Liam Martin pulled one back three minutes before the break, prodding in from Jay McCartney's cross.

McCartney poked wide before before blasting over from 30 yards as the hosts missed out on a leveller.

Portadown were aiming to bounce back after Cliftonville inflicted a first defeat of the season last weekend.

However, they suffered an early setback when skipper Keith O'Hara was forced off with a neck injury.

Murray has been linked with a move to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and he showed his goalscoring prowess by firing home the opener after 27 minutes.

The lead was doubled five minutes later when Oman connected with Ross Redman's corner.

Martin gave the Mallards hope but chances were few in the second half as Portadown kept in touch with pacesetters Linfield and Cliftonville.