Portadown face a critical Premiership fixture at home to Ballymena United on Saturday 7 November as they look to reverse a worrying slide in form. The match at Shamrock Park kicks off at 3pm on 7 November with the club currently 11th in the table and eight points from safety. They have accumulated just eight points from 13 games, with a record of two wins and two draws against nine defeats, and sit a massive 26 points behind the league leaders.
Portadown's recent results have been mixed, with two wins, a draw and two losses in their last five outings. They have, however, lost their last two matches consecutively, including a 1-2 home defeat to Linfield last Friday where Kennedy scored a penalty. That result left them with just eight points from 13 games, having scored 11 goals and conceded 23 so far this season. This followed a 0-2 home loss to Cliftonville FC on 20 October, which came after a 2-1 away win at Cliftonville on 17 October. Their goal difference of minus 12 is a key factor in their lowly position, and they have been averaging just over 0.6 points per game.
Recent form and head-to-head
Ballymena United arrive in much better form, having won three of their last four matches across all competitions. The most recent meeting between the sides saw Ballymena secure a 2-0 victory at their ground on 26 September. Portadown's last starting lineup featured players like J. Barry, D. Isamala and M. Carson, while Ballymena's recent side included D. Walsh, M. Glynn and S. Whiteside. The source notes that Ballymena's recent success has been built on a solid defence, having conceded only 15 goals in their 13 league matches to date, a record that contrasts sharply with Portadown's defensive struggles.
Immediate context and next steps
Before they can focus fully on the Ballymena showdown, Portadown have a tough away trip to face third-placed Larne on 30 October. That match presents another significant challenge for a squad looking to build momentum. The immediate schedule is demanding, and a positive result against Ballymena could provide a vital boost ahead of the final run of games before the winter break. The club's next fixture after Saturday is yet to be confirmed on our fixtures page.
