Bates treble sinks Ports in derby
Guy Bates struck a brilliant hat-trick as Glenavon beat Portadown 4-2 in Monday night’s Mid-Ulster derby at Shamrock Park.
Bates scored twice in the first half before adding a third in the second period as the Lurgan Blues ran riot.
Kyle Neill was also on target for the visitors while Gary Twigg and Peter McMahon replied for Portadown.
The win puts the Lurgan Blues into second place in the Irish Premiership table behind Linfield. The Ports are in third after what was just their second defeat to Glenavon in 17 matches at Shamrock Park.
Portadown manager Ronnie McFall slammed the effort of his players while Bates praised player-manager Gary Hamilton for the way he has turned the club around.
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Casement (Paget 68), Ramsey, Breen, McMahon, Murray, Braniff, McStay, McCafferty (Mouncey 59), Twigg, Friars. Subs not used: Brennan, Traynor, Judge.
GLENAVON: Connolly, Neill (Rainey 71), Murphy, Kilmartin, Hamilton (Farren 83), Bates (Lindsay 93), McGrory, Marshall, McKeown, McCabe, Singleton.
Subs not used: McCallion, Martyn.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)