Matchday Perspectives: Portadown

Introducing a brand new feature to cliftonvillefc.net, our Matchday Perspectives programme will catalogue Cliftonville’s home games through the eyes of supporter Sean McKinney from his vantage point in the Disabled Section of the McAlery Stand.

Covering not only key on-pitch action, Sean’s accounts will also reflect the pre-match build-up and the atmosphere generated in the Red Army’s bid to inspire the team, plus his take on the standout performers in Jim Magilton’s side, starting with Saturday’s Boyle Sports Premiership victory over Portadown.

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It’s great to be back at Solitude after such a long break!

My first match was as a six-year-old back in April 2013, when George McMullan scored an injury-time penalty against Linfield to secure the League title. I’ve only been here a few times since, but it’s great to be given this opportunity by Cliftonville fc FC attend regularly and contribute to the website. To be involved from the beginning in what should be an exciting new era for the Club is something special.

The match against Portadown on Saturday, September 5 was excellent. The result was well deserved and the big home support, the constant chanting of the Red Army to a pounding drumbeat right until the final whistle, and the 100 or so Portadown fans who made the trip up from mid-Ulster, all contributed to what was a great atmosphere.

Some home fans also travelled a few miles to attend the game. Thirteen banners, which really brightened up the old stand, showed there were fans from Aberdeen (a Belfast man living there attends the games as often as possible), Antrim, Randalstown and Larne as well as closer to home – Andytown, Moor Park and, of course, The Hole in the Wall.

Others included a Suicide Awareness banner, Michael Newberry CSC and the much-travelled ‘Cliftonville FC Belfast’ banner which was owned by ‘World Cup Kenny’ Murdock, RIP, and was seen regularly on TV at Republic of Ireland matches, home and away.

From where I was in the Disabled Section below the Directors’ Box, I was unable to read the slogans on the rest of the banners which were hanging nearest the away end.

In the McAlery Stand, a group of honorary Cliftonville supporters from London and Birmingham had travelled to Belfast for a stag weekend and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the whole occasion, especially the experience of having (quite) a few pints of Guinness while watching a top-flight football game.

Just before kick-off, the team and mascots were welcomed on to the pitch by Red Arnie and a guard of honour provided by Ardoyne Youth Club, looking very smart in their cool green kits.

When the pre-match formalities were over, the whistle sounded and it was time to see if the Belfast Telegraph’s Friday night prediction of a 2-0 home win would prove correct.

After falling to back-to-back Premiership losses against Linfield and Dungannon Swifts, Cliftonville were looking to respond with a bang, and this they surely did, dominating for most of the 90 minutes against a Portadown team which had yet to register a League win.

The first few minutes were even enough but soon Cliftonville began to tighten their grip on the game and took the lead in the 18th minute. The ball was fed through from Dean McMaster to Brian Healy, who found himself level against the Portadown keeper. The Cliftonville number 10 fired a perfect low-driven shot into the bottom left-hand corner to go one 1-0.

Dan O’Connor blocked a great effort from Portadown in the 22nd minute and, five minutes later, captain Rory Hale appeared to have doubled the lead only to see his goal ruled offside.

Shortly afterwards, PJ Morrison, Cliftonville’s number 1 – well actually 31 – showing no signs of his injury from last week’s encounter with Dungannon, pulled off a spectacular one-handed save by tipping a powerful shot over the bar.

Hale, after a great solo run, again tested the Ports goalkeeper in the 32nd minute but to no avail. Three minutes later, it was Healy’s turn to make a run, down the right wing, from where he crossed the ball with precision to number 20, Ben Quinn, who made no mistake when heading the ball into the net.

At half-time the Reds headed to the dressing room deservedly two goals to the good.

The second-half began with Cliftonville again taking control of the match. In the 52nd minute, Healy was unfortunate not to double his tally. A few minutes later, Portadown sent a long free-kick in to the Cliftonville box but Morrison, who was having a great game, claimed the cross

Cliftonville then countered with their own attack. Healy ran at the Portadown defence with the option of going to the byline for a cut-back or cutting inside for a shot. He took the second option and this proved to be the right choice as his powerful shot beautifully found the top corner of the net and put the home side 3-0 up.

Portadown pulled one back in the 65th minute through their no 10 Eamon Fyfe and, for the next 10 minutes, the Ports took some control of the game and had a shot rebound off the post in the 72nd minute but Cliftonville again began to show their class.

Late on, Super Joe ‘The Goal’ Gormley fired in a shot from a tough angle which forced a diving save from Ports keeper Barry. That proved to be the last serious piece of action from either team in a match which Cliftonville won comfortably enough. The Telegraph’s prediction was close enough – not a 2-0 win but still a win by two clear goals.

Every player showed great character after two disappointing losses but my Man of the Match award must go to Brian Healy, with his two goals and one assist. A big shout out also to goalkeeper Morrison, who recovered well from his nasty collision in the goalmouth last week and a final shout out to no. 41 Joe Sheridan, an old classmate of mine from St Malachy’s College, who impressed on his first League start of the season.