Portadown lost 2-0 to Ballymena United in a Premiership match at the Ballymena Showgrounds on Saturday. Goals from Finley Thorndike and Igor Rutkowski in the second half secured the hosts' second league win of the season.
The result leaves Portadown 12th in the Premiership with just one point from eight games.
Thorndike broke the deadlock after 63 minutes, finishing a move involving a clever backheel assist from Caoimhin McConnell. Portadown, who defended with many players behind the ball, made a series of substitutions in response but could not find a way back. Igor Rutkowski sealed the win for Ballymena with their second goal eight minutes from time.
Portadown's Greg Thompson was shown a yellow card in the first half. The visitors made four changes in a late triple substitution, introducing Jamie Scott, Euan Fyfe, Joe Teelan and Andrew Obhakhan.
Ballymena manager Oran Kearney highlighted his team's mindset after the game. "My big driver is performance and the levels of where we're getting to," he said. "But for me, the most pleasing aspect was more the mentality today."
Portadown's next match is at home against Limavady United on 3 October.
Portadown manager David Jeffrey said his side failed to capitalise on their first-half dominance in Saturday's 2-0 defeat. "I went down at half-time and said to the players we should be three up," Jeffrey stated. He confirmed the game was his 1,300th in charge. The loss leaves Portadown 12th in the Premiership with one point from nine games, having scored only five goals all season.
Portadown manager David Jeffrey said his side's first-half chances should have yielded a lead. "We came in at half-time thinking we could have been two or three to the good," Jeffrey stated. Ballymena goalkeeper David Walsh denied Divin Isamala and Baris Altintop with key saves. The result leaves Portadown 12th in the Premiership with one point from nine games, having scored only five goals all season.
