PORTADOWN boss Niall Currie has warned his players not to take their eye off the goal of the Playr-Fit Championship title - and, with it, an immediate return to the top flight - when they face fellow contenders Dundela in a Shamrock Park crunch on Saturday.
The Ports are four points clear - of both Bangor and the Duns - at the summit with just two matches remaining so could secure the title in Saturday’s blockbuster. The Seasiders take on Institute - just a point behind in fourth - at the Brandywell.
Currie said: “We have to make sure we are focused. Our mindset has to be right because all the teams in the top six can beat each other.
“We know how difficult the match will be so we have to apply ourselves to the task properly. Dundela will be coming here confident of spoiling our title chances.
“But if we are on our game we are a very difficult team to beat.”
The promotion battle is complicated by the fact Dundela will not step up even if they win the title as Wilgar Park is too narrow to pass Sports Direct Premiership rules and the club have said they will not groundshare.
For the Ports, only a title win would guarantee promotion, otherwise a play-off would be their only route back to the Sports Direct Premiership.
Meanwhile, Portadown players Lee Chapman, Eamon Fyfe, Ryan Mayse and Gary Thompson were on Wednesday night named in the Championship Team of the Year. They are joined by the Bangor quartet of Lewis Francis, Scott McArthur, Reece Neale and goalkeeper James Taylor. Dundela’s Jordan Jenkins and H&W Welders’ Matthew Ferguson lead the line, while Institute defender Shaun Leppard also makes the team. The Championship all-stars will be honoured at the NI Football Awards at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza on Saturday night.
FIXTURES
Saturday, April 20 (3pm)
Section A: H&W Welders v Annagh United; Institute v Bangor; Portadown v Dundela
Section B: Ballinamallard United v Ards; Dergview v Knockbreda; Newington v Ballyclare Comrades