McElroy hits hat-trick as Portadown defeat Swifts

A hat-trick from Paul McElroy helped Portadown seal a vital win.

Portadown claimed an important three points in their bid to avoid relegation as they defeated fellow strugglers Dungannon Swifts 3-1 at Shamrock Park on Friday night.

Ethan McGee had briefly levelled for Dean Shiels' men, but McElroy converted a penalty late on to seal his treble, as the Swifts remain in the relegation/promotion play-off place.

Hat-trick hero

January signing Paul McElroy was the hero for the Ports as his treble helped them claim only their third league win of the season in an entertaining game at Shamrock Park.

The Mid-Ulster side were ahead with just three minutes on the clock when McElroy, who joined from Ballymena last month, received a cross from the right, swivelled inside the Swifts' penalty area and fired past Declan Dunne.

Ethan McGee would equalise for the visitors on the 57th minute after Rhyss Campbell crossed low across the six-yard area to leave McGee with the simple task of slotting past a helpless Ondrej Mansty.