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Uploaded Tuesday, 25th Jul, 2023 at 21:24
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Date: Tuesday, 25th July, 2023; Competition: Friendly; Attendance: N/A;
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Portadown
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[0]
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[2]
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Ballymena United
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[1]
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[1]
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Venue: Shamrock Park; Kick-Off: 19:30;
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Goals:
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[0-1] WAIDE, Ryan (5 mins), [1-1] WAIDE, Ryan (55 mins), [2-1] FYFE, Eamon (80 mins)
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BALLYMENA United's pre-season preparations continued at Shamrock Park on Tuesday night as they suffered a first defeat in a 2-1 loss to Portadown.
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Jim Ervin and his backroom team made a few changes to the side that drew with Ballyclare on Saturday afternoon for the trip to mid Ulster and it took United just six minutes to go in front. A quick attack from the back saw Michael Place drive forward before clipping a great ball into Ryan Waide, who kept himself onside and emphatically finished.
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Johnny McMurray headed over for the visitors shortly after Waide's goal, but after that most of the chances in the half went Portadown's way, and towards the end of a feisty half for a friendly, Sean O'Neill had to make a few routine saves.
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O'Neill made way for Trialist C at half time, as Lewis Tennant replaced Place too, but on fifty-four minutes the Ports deservedly levelled. A short corner caught United out and a deep cross to the back post was nodded across the six-yard box, where former Sky Blue Paul McElroy appeared to get the final touch.
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Fiontan O'Boyle came on for Waide and made an immediate impact when a fine piece of solo play ended with the new man clipping the crossbar, however with ten minutes to go Portadown moved ahead. Gary Thompson did well in the middle and slipped in Eamon Fyfe who evaded a sliding tackle on the edge of the box, before drilling home into the far bottom corner.
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Late on substitute Caleb Crawford made a huge block to deny McElroy at close range, but in the end it was a first defeat for the new manager during pre-season, with Portadown fairly deserving winners on the night.
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Ballymena United travel to Breda Park on Saturday afternoon to face Knockbreda in their final pre-season friendly, kicking off at 3:00pm.
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Match Report by Phillip McPeake
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Ballymena United Team:
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Sean O'Neill (  Trialist C 46), Scot Whiteside ( Caleb Crawford 81), Colin Coates, Kym Nelson, Michael Place ( Lewis Tennant 46), Trialist A, Trialist B, Alex Gawne ( Kenneth Kane 66), Ryan Waide ( Fiontan O'Boyle 66), Jordan Gibson, Johnny McMurray.
Subs not used: George Tipton, Trialist D.
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