Late downer

Cliftonville 1-2 Portadown

Cliftonville contrived to emerge empty-handed from a contest they dominated as Portadown claimed a sucker-punch winner in this evening’s Boyle Sports Premiership meeting at Solitude.

Despite bossing the first-half, the Reds trailed to a Ben Kennedy strike but drew level courtesy of Brian Healy early in the second period before continuing to lay siege to the visitors’ goal without reward.

An injury to substitute Joe Gormley meant the hosts played out the closing stages a man light and Portadown took full advantage of their numerical supremacy when Jack Scott headed in from close range in injury-time.

After a Rory Hale free-kick was inches away from breaking the deadlock, Cliftonville heaved a sigh of relief when the Ports were only awarded a free-kick of their own despite Aaron Wightman’s handling offence appearing to occur inside the penalty area.

Healy sent an effort wide before a goalmouth scramble ended with Liam McStravick lifting an attempt over the bar but, despite the hosts having controlled things from the first whistle, they fell behind on 30 minutes when James Teelan’s cross was flicked on by Divin Isamala and Michael Hewitt sent a low shot against the base of the post, with Kennedy following up to convert the rebound.

Even so, the general theme of the match continued and Ollie Samuels lashed an effort across the face of goal before Ben Quinn’s header drew a save from Aaron McCarey.

The equaliser came on 54 minutes when, from Hale’s corner delivery, Quinn kept things alive inside the box and the ball was eventually hammered into the path of Healy, who made no mistake from close range.

All of that endeavour was almost immediately undone when Teelan went close from distance before Cliftonville’s dominance saw Ollie Samuels head over from a promising position, while good work from Joe Sheridan ended with Luke Conlan turning a strike just over the bar.

The Reds should have been awarded an 88th minute penalty when Conlan was dragged to the ground by Gary Thompson while attempting to connect with another Hale delivery before the hosts were dealt another – but not their final – blow when substitute Joe Gormley was forced off with injury, leaving Jim Magilton’s side to soldier on with just 10 players.

Portadown made the most of their numerical advantage when they seized on a loose ball and quickly worked possession into the box and, though PJ Morrison made a good save to avert the initial danger, the away side kept the move alive and Teelan’s cross was headed in by Scott to bag full points for the Ports.

Cliftonville: Morrison, Wightman, Samuels (Conlan, 80 mins), Wilson, Hale, Healy, Leppard, Quinn (Hawthorne, 86 mins), Bannon, McStravick (Gormley, 76 mins), Sheridan. Unused subs: Cremen-Cowan, McClelland, Thompson, Stanfield.