Irish Premiership: Ballinamallard Utd 0-0 Portadown

Ballinamallard and Portadown in Ferney Park stalemate

Portadown's January struggles continued as they were held by Ballinamallard in the Premiership contest at Ferney Park.

The Ports did have the better of the first-half chances as Mallards keeper Fergal Murphy denied Gary Twigg and Peter McMahon also blasted over.

Twigg nodded against the crossbar after the restart but the Mallards also hit the woodwork from a Mark Stafford shot.

For the second game in succession, the Ports were reduced to 10 men as Mark McAllister picked up two yellow cards.

With leaders Crusaders being held by Dungannon Swifts, Portadown remain seven points off the pace although they are now three points adrift of second-placed Linfield, who also have a game in hand on the Shamrock Park outfit.

Ballinamallard's stay 10th but it has been an encouraging four days for the Fermanagh outfit after their 1-1 draw against Linfield on Tuesday.

Portadown's fading title challenge suffered another blow as they were held by Ballinamallard