Ballymena United levelled late to earn a share of the spoils against Portadown in a largely forgettable affair at the Showgrounds.

Chances were few and far between from two sides who are struggling for form until a goal apiece in the final 10 minutes.

The Ports thought they had won it as top scorer Eamon Fyfe bagged an 84th minute penalty.

However, substitute Jack O'Reilly then kept his cool to level matters in stoppage time.

There was little to get excited about in the first half but Josh Carson, one of three former Ballymena United men in the visiting line-up, drew the anger of the home support as he escaped a booking on six minutes for a heavy challenge on Igor Rutkowski.

Just 10 minutes later, Carson gave referee Shane McGonigle no other option than to produce a yellow as the midfielder caught Fuad Sule late.

The home side carved out the first opportunity on 23 minutes as Matthew Clarke crossed for Sean Murray, who planted his header wide of goal from six yards.

Portadown finally carved out a goal scoring opportunity two minutes before the break when Eamon Fyfe picked out Josh Ukek, but his first-time shot was blocked by the outstretched leg of home keeper Bradley Wade.

Calvin McCurry was introduced by the home side at the break and he showed his intent five minutes after the restart as he tried his luck from outside the box with an effort which flew well over Alex Moore's goal.

Shay McCartan came within a whisker of the opening goal on 61 minutes as he got on the end of James Teelan's deep cross, but his first-time effort clipped the bar on its way over.

The hosts responded with a great chance when Rutkowski showed great strength to hold off his marker before drilling a low shot towards goal which Alex Moore did well to block with his leg.

Murray then directed another header off target for the home side as we moved into the final 15 minutes.

Just when it looked like we were heading for a goalless draw, Portadown were handed the opportunity to break the deadlock from the penalty spot as Murray was adjudged to have handled Ben Quinn's shot in the area.

Up stepped their top scorer Fyfe to fire home the spot kick off the underside of the bar for his 11th of the season.

However, Ballymena weren't done just yet as a minute into stoppage time O'Reilly took advantage of some indecision in the Ports defence to race in and fire a low shot past Moore to earn a point.