Ballyclare Comrades vs Portadown

Isamala's header on the stroke of half-time. Ballyclare had held firm through the first 44 minutes, absorbing Portadown's early pressure. Conceding so late in the half — after the board had already gone up — gave the home side a psychological blow from which they never recovered in the second period.

Divin Isamala — The 23-year-old Irish defender, on loan from League of Ireland side Bohemians since January 2025, opened the scoring with a well-timed stoppage-time header. The goal was his first of pre-season and demonstrated aerial threat from set pieces.

Ahu Obhakhan — Portadown's experienced centre-forward, who signed a contract extension until summer 2026 in October 2024, rounded off the scoring with a clinical finish and led the line effectively throughout.

Ballyclare Comrades — The hosts, managed by Stephen Small since 2022, competed gamely but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. As the club's official X account posted: "All over and after a good workout for the boys it finishes 3–0 to Portadown. Best of luck to Portadown for the rest of the season." Nathan Best gave a post-match interview after the game, reflecting on the squad's early pre-season work.

No cards were shown in the entire match, typical of a low-intensity pre-season friendly where both sides prioritised fitness over combat. The 0–3 scoreline reflects a game Portadown controlled without needing to hit top gear. All three goals arrived from open play with no assists recorded in the provider data, suggesting individual quality in the final third decided the contest rather than sustained build-up dominance.

In a fixture that historically tends to produce goals — both teams scored in 62% of previous 13 meetings — Ballyclare's failure to convert any of their own opportunities proved decisive.

Portadown open their pre-season with a confidence-building clean sheet victory under David Jeffrey MBE, who was appointed manager in April 2026 after three years out of management. The Ports have announced eight pre-season friendlies for July; their next fixture sees them travel to face League of Ireland Premier Division side Drogheda United on 11 July, followed by a trip to Premiership rivals Coleraine on 18 July.

Ballyclare Comrades, who compete in the Playr-Fit Championship, continue their own pre-season preparations.

A thoroughly professional pre-season outing from Portadown: efficient in attack, unbreached at the back, and with minutes spread across the squad. Isamala's headed goal was the quality moment that separated the sides. Ballyclare will face stiffer tests but can take positives from a competitive opening hour against Premiership opposition.