Last Time Out

PORTADOWN would come out on top the last time the two teams met as Adam Salley and Harry Anderson netted second-half goals…

Date:

Saturday, March 19, 2022

Result:

Portadown 2-0 Coleraine

Goals – Salley (’64 mins) & Anderson (’69 mins)

Report: 

COLERAINE would continue their woes away from home as they were beaten by Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Due to injuries and suspensions, the Bannsiders were only able to field six substitutes but threatened on ten minutes as a corner kick was caught in the wind which forced Greg Hall to head off the line. Two minutes later, the Stripes had a further sight of goal as Patrick Kelly hit straight down the throat of Jethren Barr after weaving his way into the box.

At the other end, Harry Anderson would be cautioned for simulation inside the box as Adam Salley hit a half volley over the bar on 18 minutes. There would be another booking for simulation just four minutes later as Josh Carson received a caution for going down inside the box.

Just before the half hour mark, Barr’s gloves would be tested through Eoin Bradley’s free-kick before Stephen Lowry headed straight into the stopper’s arms from Andrew Mitchell’s corner kick.

However, the best chance of the opening 45 minutes would arrive in stoppage time as Lyndon Kane and Carson combined to cross the ball into the head of Mitchell. Just when it looked like the striker would net his first goal in Coleraine colours, he would be thwarted by a superb stop by Barr.

Paul Doolin’s side would make all the early running in the second-half as a snapshot from outside the box by Stephen Teggart took a deflection off Harry Anderson, with Gareth Deane having to adjust his feet and save the ball.

On 58 minutes, the breakthrough almost arrived in fine style as Oisin Conaty controlled the ball from a throw-in and hit a strike from distance that forced Deane to turn the ball around the post.

The pressure would finally tell for the Ports as they edged in front on 64 minutes as Salley beat the offside trap – from Teggart’s great through ball – and slotted past Deane. Five minutes later, it got even better for the hosts as Jamall Dupree’s cross found the onrushing Anderson at the back post who couldn’t miss from close range.

After Carson would see an effort sail over the bar, the Ports almost added a third as the lively Conaty picked out Salley on the counter attack with the striker seeing his thunderbolt being parried away by Deane.

The Stripes would bring on youngster Kirk McLaughlin and he would send a header harmlessly wide, with the Bannsiders missing a guilt edge chance at the end as Bradley poked wide from a cut back.

Line-ups:

PORTADOWN: Barr, Hall, Ruddy (Doherty ’71 mins), Tipton, Salley, Anderson, Conaty, McNally (McCallum ’38 mins), Teggart, Beverland, Stedman (Dupree ’46 mins).

Subs Not Used: Burns (GK), Murphy, Mashigo, Chatee.

COLERAINE: Deane, Kane, Mullan, Brown (O’Donnell ’83 mins), McKendry, Lowry, Bradley, Carson, Traynor, Mitchell (K. McLaughlin ’72 mins), Kelly.

Subs Not Used: Gallagher (GK), Jarvis, Wilson, Tosh.

Referee:

Andrew Davey