Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Larne 3rd with 16 points, Portadown 12th with 1, 15 apart. Per game in the league, Portadown were scoring 0.63 and conceding 2.13, Larne 2 and 0.5, against a competition average of 1.35 goals per team per game.
Portadown had been beaten in five straight games. The five-game form split read 0/15 points for Portadown against 8/15 for Larne.
Across 10 recorded meetings, Portadown have 4 wins to Larne's 3, with 3 draws, at 3.1 goals per meeting. Playing at home matters in this fixture: 70% of the meetings went to the host. The fixture leans high-scoring: 80% of meetings brought at least three goals, and both sides scored in 60%.
The venue was Shamrock Park, with room for 5,804 spectators. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Larne led 1-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 0-2.
Goal scorers
Larne: Tomas Cosgrove (7'), Sean Graham (57')
Key stats
Possession: Portadown 59% · Larne 41% · Total shots: 1-5 · On target: 1-5 · Corners: 6-3