Josh Carson is booked for a foul on Josh Ukek.

Portadown fail to take advantage of the resulting free-kick.

Another long range effort from Ballymena.

This time it's Andrew Scott who has a go, but he also fires off target.

Jordan Forsythe finds space on the edge of the box, setting himself for a strike at goal, but Michael Newberry throws himself in front of the Crues midfielder's effort to make a crucial block for the home side.

Josh Carson turns before trying his luck from range with his effort wide of the left hand post.

This game has become quite frantic in the last five minutes with both sides pushing for a goal.

A Crusaders' corner causes momentary panic in the Cliftonville box before being partially cleared.

Harry Jewitt-White seizes on the loose ball and attempts an ambitious first-time volley. However, the young midfielder's technique lets him down, sending the ball well off-target of David Odumosu's goal.

Goodness, what a chance for Portadown!

Eamon Fyfe plays the ball back for the onrushing Paul McElroy whose low strike is well wide.

McElroy had lots of space there with the away bench on their feet in anticipation.

Ryan Curran bursts through the visitors' backline, but the Reds strikers' near-post effort rises just too high, clearing Jonny Tuffey's crossbar.

Ryan Curran demonstrates excellent vision, chipping the ball over the Crues defence to find Joe Gormley.

From an impossibly tight angle, Gormley opts to shoot rather than pick out his waiting teammates. Jonny Tuffey, who's been kept busy throughout the match, makes yet another save to deny the hosts.

Lee Chapman's cross from the left wing finds Eamon Fyfe, unmarked, in the box but the striker can't test Sean O'Neill with his resulting header.

That was the best chance of the game.

Ben Kennedy stands over the resulting free-kick and sends his effort narrowly wide.

That was a good chance for Kennedy, who is searching for his 12th goal of the campaign this evening.

Michael Newberry rises highest to meet Ronan Doherty's corner, nodding it into Joe Gormley's path.

The Reds' talisman connects with a header of his own, but Jonny Tuffey is alert once again. The Crues keeper parries it away, conceding another corner.

Baris Altintop is the first to be cautioned by referee Tony Clarke and Ballymena now have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Postpublished at 20:07 Greenwich Mean Time 1 November 2024

20:07 GMT 1 November 2024

Ballymena United 0-0 Portadown

Sean Brown does well to dispossess Lee Chapman in midfield, but has picked up an injury in the process.

The 19-year-old is now receiving treatment. To the relief of the home fans, it looks like he will be able to continue though.

Jordan Forsythe squanders a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead!

The midfielder meets Robbie Weir's inviting cross from point-blank range but can only direct his header straight at David Odumosu.

Either side of the Reds stopper and its advantage Crusaders.

Rory Hale reacts quickest after Jimmy Callacher blocks Ronan Doherty's through ball.

The Reds midfielder takes aim from the edge of the box, but Jonny Tuffey showcases his reflexes once again, tipping the powerful drive over the bar.

Steven McCullough's corner causes a bit of a scramble before falling to Shay McCartan, who fires well off target.

It's safe to say that strike was nowhere near as impressive as the one he scored against Larne last Sunday!

Ronan Doherty lines up the free-kick, won after a foul on Michael Newberry, and aims for the top left corner.

His curling effort is well-struck, but Jonny Tuffey reads it all the way, gathering the ball with assured hands.

Michael Glynn delivers a pinpoint pass to Taylor Steven, who finds himself in acres of space wide of the six-yard box.

Steven chests the ball down and volleys goalward, but Jonny Tuffey rushes off his line to pull off a spectacular save.

Ballymena are awarded the first corner of the game after Lee Chapman diverted Joe Moore's attempted cross into the box.

Josh Carson takes the resulting corner with his delivery nodded on by Kym Nelson, but his header is narrowly wide.

Kieran Offord finds space to unleash a strike from the edge of the box, but Jonny Addis shows all of his experience, positioning himself perfectly to block the Crues frontman's effort.