Ports grab draw with Blues as United get off mark

Ryan Mayse scored five minutes into stoppage time as Portadown earned a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Premiership leaders Linfield at Shamrock Park on Friday night.

The result ended the Blues' 100% start to the season, David Healy's side having won their previous four matches to start the campaign.

Matthew Fitzpatrick twice gave Linfield the lead in either half, with Ahu Obhakan levelling in the first half and Mayse equalising with a stunning late strike.

Meanwhile summer signing Ben Kennedy bagged a hat-trick as Ballymena United clinched their first points of the new campaign at the fifth time of asking by defeating Glenavon 3-1 at the Showgrounds.

The Braidmen move above the Lurgan Blues on goal difference into ninth place in the table. Keith Ward was the goalscorer for Stephen McDonnell's side.

The top flight action continues on Saturday with three 15:00 BST kick-offs - Crusaders v Carrick Rangers, Glentoran v Cliftonville and Loughgall v Dungannon Swifts. Coleraine host Larne on Sunday at 14:15 as the champions begin the defence of the title they have won for the past two seasons.

The visitors broke the deadlock after just six minutes at Shamrock Park as Fitzpatrick got on the end of Chris McKee's cross from a central area to score from a tight angle at the back post from a set-piece routine.

Seven minutes before the break, totally against the run of play, the hosts levelled through Obhakhan.

Steven McCullough did superbly down the left hand side - he found Obhakhan unmarked in the middle of the penalty spot where he just had to tap the ball home from point blank range.

The second half was far more even, with both sides having chances to take the lead. The Ports carried far more of a sustained threat, meanwhile the Blues looked increasingly dangerous every time they went forward.

Twenty minutes from time it was that man Fitzpatrick who added his second of the night, beating the offside trap as he latched onto Joel Cooper's through ball before finishing calmly into the far corner.

However, there was late drama as second half substitute Ryan Mayse snatched a point for his side right at the death with a quite stunning effort from outside the area.