Ports grab draw with Blues as United get off mark

Ryan Mayse and Ben Kennedy were in goalscoring form for Portadown and Ballymena respectively

Ryan Mayse scored five minutes into stoppage time as Portadown earned a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Premiership leaders Linfield at Shamrock Park on Friday night.

The result ended the Blues' 100% start to the season, David Healy's side having won their previous four matches to start the campaign.

Matthew Fitzpatrick twice gave Linfield the lead in either half, with Ahu Obhakan levelling in the first half and Mayse equalising with a stunning late strike.

Meanwhile summer signing Ben Kennedy bagged a hat-trick as Ballymena United clinched their first points of the new campaign at the fifth time of asking by defeating Glenavon 3-1 at the Showgrounds.

The Braidmen move above the Lurgan Blues on goal difference into ninth place in the table. Keith Ward was the goalscorer for Stephen McDonnell's side.

The top flight action continues on Saturday with three 15:00 BST kick-offs - Crusaders v Carrick Rangers, Glentoran v Cliftonville and Loughgall v Dungannon Swifts. Coleraine host Larne on Sunday at 14:15 as the champions begin the defence of the title they have won for the past two seasons.

Mayse the late hero for Ports

The visitors broke the deadlock after just six minutes at Shamrock Park as Fitzpatrick got on the end of Chris McKee's cross from a central area to score from a tight angle at the back post from a set-piece routine.

Seven minutes before the break, totally against the run of play, the hosts levelled through Obhakhan.

Steven McCullough did superbly down the left hand side - he found Obhakhan unmarked in the middle of the penalty spot where he just had to tap the ball home from point blank range.

The second half was far more even, with both sides having chances to take the lead. The Ports carried far more of a sustained threat, meanwhile the Blues looked increasingly dangerous every time they went forward.

Twenty minutes from time it was that man Fitzpatrick who added his second of the night, beating the offside trap as he latched onto Joel Cooper's through ball before finishing calmly into the far corner.

However, there was late drama as second half substitute Ryan Mayse snatched a point for his side right at the death with a quite stunning effort from outside the area.

Kennedy treble seals three points

Ballymena broke the deadlock when Andy Scott weaved his way round Len O’Sullivan before delivering a looping cross into the box, which was met by a diving header from Kennedy.

Kennedy netted his second of the evening and doubled the home side’s advantage on the 21st minute after Glenavon failed to clear the striker’s attempted delivery into the box and he was able to intercept Barney McKeown’s defensive header, control the danger and fire into the bottom right-hand corner, past the outstretched Gareth Deane.

However, their lead was halved in the 33rd minute when Keith Ward’s free-kick from just outside the box struck the crossbar and deflected off the arm of Sam Johnston before finding the back of the net.

Ballymena’s new number nine restored their two-goal advantage and secured the match ball just after the restart when Jonathan McMurray headed the danger back for Kennedy, who coolly converted from close range.

Jim Ervin’s side had multiple chances to further extend their lead with the best when Calvin McCurry was left one-on-one after a well-timed pass from Kennedy, but his resulting strike was off target.