Still one-way traffic here as Shay McCartan pilfers the ball off Chris Gallagher in midfield before releasing James Teelan.

His cross sails over the crossbar but Niall Currie's men are playing at a tempo that Larne are struggling to keep up with.

Watch how Portadown raced into a 2-0 lead over Larne in the Irish Premiership game at Shamrock Park with goals from Josh Ukek and Ahu Obhakhan

No goals in the past few minutes but Larne have not responded anything near the way Gary Haveron would have wanted. The Portadown press has given them problems in the opening 25 minutes.

Shaun Want has now been cautioned for a foul that has left Ben Wylie writhing in pain in the centre circle.

Dylan Sloan picks up the first booking of the game as he sends James Teelan to ground around 25 yards from goal.

A dangerous position here for the hosts.

It has been a high-tempo start for the Ports as Steven McCullough's floated cross finds Josh Ukek at the back post. His effort from a narrow angle sails over but had Rohan Ferguson worried.

That should be the opener for the hosts! Ahu Obhakan gets away down the right and tees up James Teelan. His first-time effort is parried by Rohan Ferguson into the path of the onrushing Ben Wylie but he blazes over from six yards.

The hosts have Larne on the back foot as James Teelan beats Shaun Want all ends up. His shot is blocked as is Shay McCartan's follow-up for a corner.

Referee Evan Boyce gets us underway on a cold but dry evening at Shamrock Park. Larne get us underway kicking left to right in their grey and black strip.

Hello and welcome to Shamrock Park for today's late kick-off. These two met in a rearranged fixture at Inver Park a fortnight ago with Steven McCullough cancelling out Andy Ryan's opener in a 1-1 draw.

Flashback to October and Shay McCartan scored a spectacular stoppage time winner here from all of 45 yards.

Niall Currie makes just one change from last Sunday's 2-2 draw at Solitude with Ben Wylie in for captain Gary Thompson, meaning Aaron McCarey dons the armband.

Larne are in the midst of a striking crisis with Tiarnan O'Connor joining the injury list after going off in the midweek defeat to Linfield and Andy Ryan unavailable despite his red card at Windsor Park on Tuesday being overturned. That means a first start for January signing Harrison Panayiotou.

Conor McKendry also starts while teenage hotshot Ambrose Ajala joins a young and inexperienced bench.

Portadown: McCarey (C), Altintop, MacKinnon, Chapman, McCullough, Wylie, Ukek, Teelan, Obhakan, Minzamba, McCartan

Subs: Williamson, Wilson, McElroy, Mayse, Fyfe, Traynor, Ismala

Larne: Ferguson, Want, Donnelly, McKendry, Graham, McEneff, Nolan, Panayiotou, Cosgrove (C), Sloan, Gallagher

Subs: Graham, Brown, Bayode, Devlin, Ajala, Wallace, Simpson

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne striker Andy Ryan has had the red card he received in Tuesday's Irish Premiership game against Linfield at Windsor Park rescinded.

The decision means the striker, who was sent-off by referee Shane Andrews for a foul on Kyle McClean late in the first half of the 1-0 defeat for the Invermen, will not serve a three-match ban for that offence.

A hearing was convened for Friday and the Irish FA's Disciplinary Committee decided that the Scottish forward's challenge was not a red card offence.

Ryan has however been hit with a charge of 'unsporting conduct' and could face a five-match ban.

That suspension has been meted out for alleged comments to the referee in the tunnel but Larne are also set to appeal that sanction this week.

Ryan will be available to face Portadown in Saturday's late kick-off in the top flight at Shamrock Park.

Image source, Pacemaker

See how Jarlath O'Rourke wrapped up the three points for Crusaders at Seaview with a clinical late finish.

The Lurgan Blues secure a memorable victory to end their six-year winless run against Cliftonville. Goals from Michael O'Connor and Jack Malone put the hosts in control before Davy McDaid's penalty made it three.

Stephen McGuiness's spectacular late strike proved merely a consolation for the visitors, who suffer their first defeat in five games.

Crusaders continue to tick over nicely as they claim their fourth league win in five games.

Ballymena's poor run of form continues - it's now just nine points out of a possible 42 for the Sky Blues since their extraordinary winning run ended earlier in the season.

A largely uneventful game at Windsor Park comes to a close as Linfield claim all three points.

Matthew Fitzpatrick's first half header is enough to earn all three points, sending the visitors back to Loughgall empty handed.

The Blues restore their 20 point lead at the top of the Irish Premiership in the process.

Three goals in the first half secure the three points for Rodney McAree's side.

The result means that Dungannon remain third and now sit on 43 points. As for the away side, their wait for a league win in 2025 continues.