Release Date: Feb 12, 2013

PORTADOWN battled their way back from a two-goal deficit to keep this Setanta Sports Cup tie very much alive.

The Drogs moved in front after eight minutes through Ryan Brennan when he reacted quickest to a mishit Stephen Quigley effort to knock the ball past Jamie McArdle.

And the Ports fell further behind just six minutes after that following a Gary O'Neill lay off for Paul O'Conor to fire into the bottom corner.

However, Aaron Burns pulled one back on 25 minutes with a header into the top corner after Derek Prendergast could only partially clear a Darren Murray throw-in.

Then, two minutes from the break, Kevin Braniff levelled for Ronnie McFall's side with a stunning 30-yard drive after the United defence failed to clear a Gary Twigg header.

But Drogheda regained the advantage on the hour courtesy of a Gavin Brennan strike after his brother, Ryan, had found him in the area.

Portadown might have grabbed a third goal themselves on 73 minutes when only an Eric Foley clearance on the line stood in the way of a Garry Breen header.

The sides meet again on Monday 18th in the second leg at Shamrock Park.

Match statistics