McKee at the double as four-goal second-half display gives Rangers an emphatic victory at New Harbour Road.
Portavogie Rangers produced a superb second-half display to secure a convincing 5–1 victory over Ballynahinch United at New Harbour Road on Saturday afternoon.
Alfie McKee struck twice, with captain Dylan Carlisle, Jay Cully and substitute Ben Adair also finding the net as Rangers turned a 1–1 half-time scoreline into an emphatic win.
Following Thursday evening's victory at Ballywalter Rec, Rangers made four changes to the starting side, with Luke McCormick, Jack Emerson, Robbie Adair and McKee coming into the eleven.
Portavogie made the ideal start and were in front after just nine minutes.
McKee, who had made a decisive impact from the bench at Ballywalter, continued his excellent form by finding the net to give Rangers an early 1–0 lead.
The home side had the advantage and looked to build on their positive opening, but Ballynahinch responded and worked their way back into the contest.
Their equaliser arrived on 27 minutes, bringing the sides level and ensuring Rangers would have to go again.
There was nothing to separate the teams by the interval, with the score remaining 1–1 at half-time.
Ben Adair was introduced in place of Reece Cully for the start of the second half as Rangers looked to regain control of the game.
The response after the break was emphatic.
McKee was again the man to make the breakthrough, scoring his second of the afternoon in the 55th minute to restore Portavogie's lead.
It was a goal which opened the floodgates.
Seven minutes later Rangers had a third, with captain Dylan Carlisle getting on the scoresheet to put the home side 3–1 ahead and give Portavogie some breathing space.
Rangers were now firmly on top and continued to push forward rather than simply protecting their advantage.
Jay Cully added a fourth in the 67th minute, capping an excellent spell in which Rangers had taken the game away from the visitors with three goals in the space of 12 minutes.
With the points looking increasingly secure, Ethan Woods and Harry Smith were introduced for Jude Carlisle and Jake Sloan as Rangers freshened things up for the closing stages.
There was still time for another goal.
Ben Adair, having entered the game at the interval, rounded off the scoring in the 78th minute to make it 5–1 and put the finishing touch on an excellent second-half performance.
From there Rangers saw out the remainder of the contest to complete a commanding home victory.
After being made to work for their half-time parity, Portavogie showed a ruthless edge after the restart, scoring four unanswered goals and giving Ballynahinch no route back into the game.
McKee was at the heart of the performance once again. Having opened the scoring after coming off the bench at Ballywalter, the striker marked his return to the starting eleven with two more goals and a Man of the Match display.
There was also plenty to like throughout the side, with Carlisle leading by example with a goal of his own, Cully continuing his scoring form and Adair making an immediate impact from the bench.
A 1–1 contest at the interval ultimately became a convincing 5–1 victory, with Rangers' second-half performance making sure of another strong result.
Portavogie Rangers 5–1 Ballynahinch United
Match Day Sponsor: Talbots Catch
Rangers scorers: Alfie McKee 9', Alfie McKee 55', Dylan Carlisle 62', Jay Cully 67', Ben Adair 78'
Man of the Match: Alfie McKee
Bookings: Harry Smith 41'
Line-up: 1 Luke McCormick, 2 David Rutherford, 3 Jake Sloan, 4 Thomas Curry, 5 Jack Emerson, 6 Dylan Carlisle (c), 8 Robbie Adair, 9 Alfie McKee, 10 Jude Carlisle, 11 Jay Cully, 16 Reece Cully. Subs: 7 Ben Adair, 14 Ethan Woods, 17 Harry Smith.
