Eamon Fyfe’s corner is only half-cleared and it drops to Shay McCartan, who lays it back for Fyfe.

His curling effort is safely gathered by Scott Pengelly as Portadown look for a quick response.

Quick thinking from Luke McCullough and Danny Gibson sees the latter poke Carrick ahead at Shamrock Park.

Early chance for Portadown as Shay McCartan unleashes an effort from outside the box. it takes a deflection off Matthew Snoddy and clips the crossbar to give Carrick Rangers an early scare.

Referee Mark Dillon gets us under way for this late-afternoon fixture at Shamrock Park.

Both sides have taken one win apiece from their previous meetings this season, but Portadown will need to be at their best to contain an in-form Carrick Rangers.

Portadown host their first home Irish Premiership fixture of the calendar year against in-form Carrick Rangers, with the Ports only two points ahead of the visitors in the table.

They return to action after a 14-day break following the postponement of their match against Ballymena United, with Niall Currie making three changes from the side beaten 1-0 by Bangor at Clandeboye Park.

Gideon Tetteh, Jack Scott and Joshua Carson drop out, with Josh Ukek, Jordan Gibson and Baris Altintop coming in.

Carrick Rangers make just one change from last weekend’s 5-1 win over Dungannon Swifts, as Jimmy Callacher makes way for Linfield loanee Ryan McKay.

Portadown: McCarey (c), Altintop, MacKinnon, Wilson, Chapman, Ukek, S McCullough, Gibson, Fyfe, Teelan, McCartan.

Subs: Moore, Tetteh, Scott, Annett, Towe, Carson, Tulloch.

Carrick Rangers: Pangelly, Place, Burns, Gibson, Lecky, L McCullough, Buchanan-Rolleston, Crowe, Heatley, Snoddy, McKay.

Subs: Donnelly, Steele, Cherry, Glendinning, McCawl, Jeffers, Moore.

Image source, BBC Sport

Larne come out on top in a six-goal thriller and maintain their eight-point advantage at the Irish Premiership summit.

Linfield find a late winning in fortuitous fashion as Ballymena United's Shane McEleney has the misfortune of turning the ball into his own net.

Aaron Jarvis curls a shot wide with the last kick of the game and Linfield have the three points on a Windsor Park pitch which now resembles something from a 1970s FA Cup tie.

All over at Clandeboye Park where Coleraine make it three league wins in a row with a comfortable 2-0 win at Bangor.

Matthew Shevlin opened the scoring after half an hour before Ben Wylie doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Reece Neale was denied a goal by a spectacular save from Ryan Schofield in Bangor's best chance of the game.

The Glens claim the three points at Stangmore Park to extend their unbeaten run to three games.

Full-time at Mourneview Park and it’s a vital victory for Michael O'Connor's men.

Harry Murphy’s second-half header proved decisive as the Lurgan Blues close the gap on Crusaders to nine points.

Success Edogun whistle a shot inches wide, deep in stoppage time.

That might be Ballymena's last chance of salvaging something from this game.

Charlie Allen cynically scythes down Kian Corbally to halt a Ballymena attack.

The very definition of 'taking one for the team'.

Gary Haveron makes two changes five minutes into added time as Dylan Sloan returns for the first time since August, with James Simpson also introduced.

Paul O'Neill and Ronan Doherty make way.

Shaun Leppard tries to play out from the back but sees his pass deflected straight into the path of Gavin Gilmore.

He pounces and drills a low shot goalward, but Lewis Ridd is equal to the substitute's effort.

Dylan Connolly is brought on for the final few minutes of the game.

Danny Amos is the player who makes way.

Into three additional minutes at Clandeboye Park.