Ballymena United debutant Nathan Hanley got on the scoresheet as the Sky Blues secured their first league win of the season with a 3-1 success at Portadown.

Kevin Braniff and Richard Lecky had early chances but Mark Surgenor headed in from six yards in the 25th minute.

Hanley fired in the second from 16 yards five minutes later but Tim Mouncey headed home from a Ross Redman cross six minutes after the interval.

Gary McCutcheon scored with a six-yard header in the 71st minute.

Early in the game, Lecky and Braniff headed wide and Braniff was off-target with another attempt which went over the bar.

The visitors' double salvo rocked the home side back on their heels but Mouncey's strike gave them some hope.

In the second half, Albert Watson headed just over and Aaron Stewart fired wide for Ballymena.

Darren Kelly missed a glorious opportunity as he headed wide, before ex-Ports striker McCutcheon sealed victory with his close-range header.

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