Lead roles

Jim Magilton lamented Cliftonville’s failure to build on either of the leads they established in yesterday’s Sports Direct Premiership draw with Portadown.

After breaking the deadlock through Ryan Curran, the Reds were quickly pegged back by Ahu Obhakhan’s classy finish but pulled back in front when Rory Hale netted early in the second-half.

Magilton felt the stage was then set for his side to take advantage of the Ports’ need to open up in search of a leveller, but the visitors instead built up a head of steam that eventually led to Josh Ukek nodding home with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Thereafter, Portadown looked the more likely to go on and win the game with a vital goal-line clearance by Odhran Casey and smart save from David Odumosu preserving Cliftonville’s point.

“When we went 1-0 up, I thought we had real control in the game, but then we conceded a really sloppy goal,” reflected Magilton.

“Then when we scored our second goal, I thought we were on top of the game then and, if we’d had a little bit more nous and knowhow, we could have gone on to score more. Portadown had to come and seek an equaliser and we could have played through that, but we didn’t.

“Then we concede another poor goal and, to be fair to Portadown, they ended the game the aggressor as we didn’t have enough.

“After we scored the second goal, we just needed to be well organised and recognise they would play on the counter, but we were careless and didn’t do enough to see the game out.

“We lacked game understanding and at this level, that can cost you. There was a naivety in our play.

“In the end, we were hanging on in a game when I didn’t think we should have been, because Portadown ended the game as the aggressor.”