Portadown 2-0 Larne
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.
Portadown 2-0 Larne
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
Watch: Ukek and Obhakhan score quick-fire double to put Ports in control
Portadown 2-0 Larne
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.
Ahu Obhakan - 18mins
The celebrations have barely died down from the first goal and the ball is in the back of the net again! Shay McCartan is the protagonist again as he drives at the Larne defence and stands one up to the back post.
Rohan Ferguson tips it up into the air but Ahu Obhakan forces it in from close range.
Larne look shell-shocked here.
Josh Ukek - 16mins
That has been coming! The afore-mentioned free-kick from Shay McCartan is parried down low by Rohan Ferguson and Josh Ukek reacts quickest to bundle home the rebound.
Portadown 0-0 Larne
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.
Portadown 0-0 Larne
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.
Portadown 0-0 Larne
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.
Portadown 0-0 Larne
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.
Portadown 0-0 Larne
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.
Portadown v Larne (17:30 GMT)
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 SportPortadown v Larne
Portadown v Larne (17:30 GMT)
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, PacemakerAndy Ryan was sent-off late in the first half against Linfield
FT: Glenavon 3-1 Cliftonville
Watch: Stephen McGuinness scores a consolation for the visitors
Saturday scoreboard
Image source, BBC SportIrish Premiership Results
Crusaders 3-1 Ballymena Utd
See how Jarlath O'Rourke wrapped up the three points for Crusaders at Seaview with a clinical late finish.
Watch: Jarlath O'Rourke scores for Crusaders to make it 3-1
Glenavon 3-1 Cliftonville
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 3-1 Ballymena United
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.
Stephen McGuinness - 90 mins
Out of nowhere, Stephen McGuinness unleashes an unstoppable strike from 25 yards that arrows into the top corner, giving Tadhg Ryan absolutely no chance.
A stunning consolation for the visitors, but surely too little too late.
Linfield 1-0 Loughgall
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.
Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Carrick Rangers
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.
Highlights: Glenavon ease past Cliftonville at Mourneview
Watch the highlights as Glenavon beat Cliftonville 3-1 in the Irish Premiership.
Read the report here
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linfield | 29 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 54 | 21 | 33 | 67 |
|
| 2 | Glentoran | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 22 | 11 | 47 |
|
| 3 | Dungannon Swifts | 28 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 43 |
|
| 4 | Crusaders | 29 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 38 | 40 | -2 | 43 |
|
| 5 | Portadown | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 42 |
|
| 6 | Larne | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 39 |
|
| 7 | Cliftonville | 28 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 39 |
|
| 8 | Coleraine | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 38 | 2 | 35 |
|
| 9 | Glenavon | 26 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 34 | -5 | 34 |
|
| 10 | Ballymena United | 26 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 31 | 36 | -5 | 33 |
|
| 11 | Carrick Rangers | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 44 | -21 | 22 |
|
| 12 | Loughgall | 27 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 25 | 62 | -37 | 13 |
|
Manager: Paddy McLaughlin
Manager: Jim Magilton
Manager: Paddy McLaughlin
Manager: Jim Magilton
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