A somewhat rocky start to life back in the Playr-Fit Championship would now appear to be firmly behind Portadown.
Naturally, the team that has held aloft the Gibson Cup more times than any other outside of Belfast would have entered this term especially keen to surge straight back into the big time following their relegation from the top-flight last campaign.
Niall Currie has put a firm stamp on the squad and, indeed, had cause for celebration on the weekend that marked a full year since he commenced his second stint in charge of his home town club.
The Ports overcame basement dwellers Knockbreda 3-1 at Shamrock Park on Saturday night, capitalising in full on Dundela’s clash with Dergview becoming a casualty of the weather earlier in the day.
The consensus pre-season favourites claw level with the east-Belfast-based Duns – who Currie departed when he assumed command at the four-time Irish League champions 12 months ago – at the summit.
It certainly hasn’t been a formality, but Portadown look to have found their feet.
That win over ‘Breda, in which Eoghan McCawl, Ryan Mayse and Sam Cochrane hit the target, means they have won seven of their last eight Championship fixtures; the sole exception being, ironically, against Dundela, who took a three-point haul from their Co Armagh foray back in early October.
Therefore, as fate would have it, the two are locked on 27 points, with the Ports hitting the summit on goal difference.
It’s some turnaround from when three successive defeats to Ballyclare Comrades, Bangor and H&W Welders had them planted in the bottom half come the start of September.
Portadown haven’t been shy in letting their ambitions be known. And they definitely aren’t to consolidate themselves at this level.
In the summer, they snapped up Ross Redman, Dougie Wilson and Kenny Kane, who had all featured in an Irish Cup Final for Ballymena United just a few months prior, Gary Thompson from United’s conquerors on the day Crusaders, flying forward Eamon Fyfe – a player who worked under Currie at Dundela – on loan from Coleraine, former Bannsider favourite Aaron Traynor from Cliftonville and seasoned line-leader Eoin Bradley from bitter rivals Glenavon.
But the shining star of all may well be the attack-minded midfield maestro they recruited from Dungannon Swifts.
Portadown publicised Ryan Mayse’s statline on social media following their Halloween triumph – and how it would have sent shivers down the spine of prospective opponents.
A quite brilliant 10 goals and eight assists in 11 matches.
Having picked up the second-tier’s Player of the Month prize for September, the former Swifts skipper has not relented.
His decisive second strike against Knockbreda helped put the seal on a remarkable seventh consecutive goalscoring game for the classy 29-year-old, who has proven his worth and then some to Currie.
He is a Premiership-calibre player and, just as he was Dungannon’s beating heart when in top form, he is a metronomic influence in the famous red and keeps the play ticking over when they transition from defence to attack.
Both for this season and beyond, Mayse is going to be massive for Portadown.
Featured Image from Portadown FC Social Media.
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