It was a pre-Halloween horror story at Stangmore Park where a Dungannon Swifts side lacking in spirit were routed in a one-sided Mid-Ulster derby.
A hat-trick from Darren Murray helped the Ports to a convincing victory as they claimed their first league win in four games.
But as the clocks go back and the dark nights set in, the lights are rapidly going out on Dungannon’s once promising start to the season.
This was their fourth straight Premiership loss, and undoubtedly their most depressing performance of the campaign to date.
An error-strewn defensive display, summed up by another shocking blunder by goalkeeper Gareth Buchanan, gifted Portadown the points.
Afterwards Darren Murphy was left reflecting on what he branded his most disheartening afternoon in 22 years of Irish League football.
The Dungannon boss could only watch in frustration as the Ports raced into a three-goal lead, aided by some woeful Swifts defending.
On the basis of this performance it is difficult to see where Swifts’ next win is coming from.
Add in a difficult run of games against Cliftonville, Glentoran and Linfield and they could easily be dragged into the relegation fight.
The deadlock was broken after 17 minutes when three players were drawn towards Kevin Braniff, allowing Gary Twigg to dart in behind and score with a left-foot drive.
If that was careless then the second goal a minute later was even worse.
A deep cross from Braniff should have been easily collected by Buchanan but he made a complete hash of it, dropping the ball for Murray to head home.
Perhaps the pre-match downpour had left the ball slippy, but it really was no excuse for an appalling error from the goalkeeper.
The third goal after 27 minutes was more than preventable as well, Murray diverting home Chris Casement’s corner at the front post.
It could have been even worse with the visitors spurning several other chances in a dominant first half performance.
Another effort from Murray was cleared off the line by Fra Brennan while Ports new-boy Shane O’Connor was denied a debut goal by Buchanan.
Dungannon’s best effort of the half fell to Darren Boyce. He broke through the visitors’ defence but directed his attempted lob well off target.
No doubt Murphy would have been grateful for the half-time break to instil a bit of organisation and focus into his players. However, his plans were ripped up straight after the restart.
Just 58 seconds had elapsed when Braniff clipped a clever pass into the box, no-one reacted and Tim Mouncey converted with a simple header.
Dungannon had a rare chance when Boyce slipped the ball out to Stefan Lavery, but his pull-back was sent wide by Ryan Harpur.
They went close again soon afterwards when Matt Hazley won possession and played in Boyce, with his low drive clipping the post.
However, the Ports threatened more goals every time they got forward.
It hadn’t been a great afternoon for Buchanan, but he went some way to redeeming his earlier error with a fine, one-handed save to deny Twigg.
He produced another important block as Twigg turned provider for Braniff, getting a touch to deflect the ball wide.
However, Murray capped a five-star performance from the Ports late on.
Neil McCafferty won possession in midfield and played a clever ball, which Murray controlled before slotting into the bottom corner.
DGN SWIFTS: Buchanan, McKerr (Lowe, 22), Brennan, Copeland (McCullough, 59), Grieve, Harpur, Hutchinson (Topley, 59), Fitzpatrick, Hazley, Boyce, S Lavery
Subs not used: C Lavery, Douglas
PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Casement, Breen, McMahon (Judge, 27, McStay, 72), Murray, Braniff, Mouncey (Rooney, 81), McCafferty, Twigg, O’Connor, Friars
Subs not used: Brennan, Ramsey
Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon)