Irish Premiership: Portadown 3-2 Ballymena United

Peter McMahon pounced to score seven minutes from time to give Portadown victory over 10-man Ballymena United.

McMahon latched on to Darren Murray's flick to move the sixth placed Ports to within on point of Glenavon.

Ken Oman headed in from Ross Redman's corner in the sixth minute but Neal Gawley shot home left-footed on 10.

Sean Mackle fired in a minute later, Tony Kane was sent-off for two yellow cards on 36 and Matthew Tipton levelled after a scramble in the box after 45.

The match burst into life with three goals in the opening 11 minutes, Oman and Gawley on target, before Mackle struck from 12 yards after meeting Mark McAllister's cross.

David Cushley saw an effort parried by David Miskelly, but Kane was dismissed by referee Raymond Hetherington nine minutes before the interval.

The former Cliftonville player was sent to the dressing room for a foul on Michael Gault, having been booked just minutes earlier for trying to take a free-kick too quickly.

The equaliser came courtesy of Tipton, with the ball having been adjudged to have crossed the line.

After the break, Chris Casement had a 30-yard free-kick well saved by Dwayne nelson, while at the other end, Casement denied Cushley a scoring opportunity.

What they said

Ballymena manager Glenn Ferguson: "Week in, week out, I am going away from matches talking about bad refereeing decisions.

"Tony (Kane) was trying to use his initiative by taking a quick free-kick, while he only made one tackle in the game and got sent-off.

"We have had four players sent-off this season and not one of them has done anything really bad."

Sean Mackle celebrates after scoring Portadown's second goal against Ballymena