Unfortunately the game will be remembered for some unsavoury incidents at the end which saw Ports keeper Michael Dougherty dismissed on 83 minutes for an incident with a ballboy followed by a scuffle involving members of both sides as the players left the pitch.

That said, there was little to report on a game that was a turgid affair throughout.

Perhaps the best moment of the first half came on 34 minutes when Portadown's Richard Clarke ran with the ball into the box before knocking it back for Gary Liggett only for his effort to sail high over the bar.

Then, four minutes after the break, Clarke was involved again with an effort of his own only for United keeper Paul Murphy to turn the ball behind.

However, it was the Sky Blues who grabbed what turned out to be the only goal of the game after Kevin Kelbie crossed from the left for Lee Patrick to beat Dougherty with a confident finish.