Danske Bank Premiership
PORTADOWN’S battle against relegation suffered a blow on Saturday as they were put to the sword in emphatic fashion at the Oval.
With Dungannon Swifts in Irish Cup action and Newry not playing over the weekend, the Ports were unable to take advantage of their game in hand over the teams closest to them in the table, losing 5-1.
Jay Donnelly scored a hat-trick as Glentoran thrashed their visitors, who finished with 10 men, to move up to fourth in the table. Donnelly grabbed two of his goals in the first-half at the Oval, while Danny Purkis also bagged a brace for the Glens.
Luke Wilson scored a consolation for the Ports, who had Paul McElroy sent off after a clash with Terry Devlin.
The victory sees Rodney McAree's side leapfrog Crusaders into fourth place and move to within two points of Cliftonville as the league heads into its split phase.
Fresh from their Irish Cup heroics against Larne, Ballymena United return to league action tonight when they take on Glenavon at the Showgrounds (7.45pm).
Both teams are comfortably mid-table heading into tonight’s game, with the two of them and Carrick Rangers looking set to battle it out to be top of the bottom six post split.
