PORTS EDGE OUT CRUES
Portadown moved into second spot in the Sports Direct Premiership with victory over Crusaders at Shamrock Park.
The Crues had the best of the opening action, coming closest when Jordan Forsythe turned a free-kick against the bottom of an upright and again with a header from a corner.
Portadown's best effort perhaps came towards the end of the half when Josh Ukek met another set piece with a header only for the ball to sail over the top.
Crusaders struck the woodwork again early in the second half when, from a throw-in, Jordan Stewart smashed his shot against the crossbar while Ross Clarke couldn't convert the rebound.
And four minutes after that Stewart was again denied by the bar after Kieran Offord had flicked the ball into his path.
Portadown hit back with Gary Thompson finding Ryan Mayse who sent a shot towards the top corner but keeper Jonny Tuffey was on hand to make a great save.
The deadlock was finally broken just before the hour, however, when Steven McCullough edged the Ports in front with a low driven effort into the back of the net from the edge of the area.
The Ports could have doubled their lead not long after that through Ahu Obhakhan after being found with a great Ben Wylie cross but his effort went just wide.
Portadown: McCarey, Altintop, MacKinnon, Chapman, Mayse, McCullough, Fyfe, Wylie, Ukek, Obhakhan, Thompson subs Ray, Wilson, McElroy, Henderson, Traynor, Riley, Mullan
Crusaders: Tuffey, Callacher, Lowry, Jewitt-White, Stewart, Blaney, Forsythe, O'Rourke, Offord, Larmour, Clarke subs Kerr, Williamson, Owens, Smith, Vance, Donnelly, Downey
Substitution 
Substitution 
