Crusaders 0-5 Portadown

Portadown crushed the Crues at Seaview but stayed nine points behind runaway Premier Division leaders Glentoran.

Vinny Arkins scored the opener for Portadown

Vinny Arkins, Kyle Neill, Gary McPhee and gary Hamilton were all on target for Ronnie McFall's side.

Their other goal came from a Paul Muir own goal.

For Crusaders, it was the second successive 5-0 defeat at home.

They were beaten by the same scoreline by Linfield on 22 February.

The Crues had their chances early on but did not take any of them. They must be wondering how they managed to finish on the wrong of that scoreline.

Portadown's Neil Ogden, deputising for the unwell Pat McGibbon, made an early error which let Gerard Rowe in one-on-one with Davy Wells.

But on-loan striker Rowe could not beat the Ports keeper who made a good smothering save.

The Crues had further chances through Alan Murphy and Stephen McBride but could not make them count.

They were punished at the other end when Arkins got his 21st minute opener.

A throw from the right bounced over Paul Muir and fell for Arkins who netted from close-range.

Briefly, it looked as if the goal might be ruled out but the referee over-ruled a flag raised by one of his assistants.

Crusaders' Jackie Kerr was booked for a bad tackle which resulted in Paul McAreavey having to limp off.

His replacement Kyle Neill put the Ports 2-0 ahead in stoppage time at the end of the first half after running on to a through ball from Richard Clarke.

Three more players were booked as things got physical in the first half - Gary Hamilton and Dean Fitzgerald of Portadown along with Crusaders' Gavin Arthur.

Muir headed in the own goal on the hour, substitute Gary McPhee struck a beauty for his first league goal for the Ports and then Hamilton bundled in the fifth near the end.