Portadown drew 0-0 with Linfield on Saturday afternoon at Shamrock Park in the Danske Bank Premiership in an entertaining contest.
Portadown made 3 changes from Tuesday nights defeat to Cliftonville, with Adam Salley, Nathan Kerr and Sammie McLeod replacing Michael Ruddy, Adam McCallum and Eoin Teggart in the starting line up. Prior to kick off 16 year old full back Reece Jordan would replace Barney McKeown in the starting line up.
Whereas the visitors are concerned, only Niall Quinn and Kirk Millar retained their places in the starting line up from their 11-0 win over PSNI in the League Cup and two changes from their last League fixture, a 3-0 win over Dungannon Swifts with Matt Green and Niall Quinn replacing Stephen Fallon and Jamie Mulgrew for Linfield.
On 2 minutes, a hooked cross from Adam Salley was easily gathered by Linfield keeper Chris Johns.
On 15 minutes, Stephen Teggart was picked out in a good position by Sammie McLeod, however he couldn’t cleanly connect with his shot and sent it wide of the post.
On 19 minutes, Linfield full back Niall Quinn had a good effort from range zip just over the bar.
On 20 minutes, Christy Manzinga had a low shot easily saved by Jethren Barr following a good run.
Soon after, a good passage of play from Portadown in the middle of the park cultivated with Lee Bonis having a shot from the left side that failed to trouble Chris Johns.
On 26 minutes, a fantastic save by Jethren Barr denied a Jordan Stewart header from close range.
On 28 minutes, Christy Manzinga had a header following a corner delivery that failed to hit the target.
On 41 minutes, Portadown had a great opportunity when Adam Salley sent a glancing header just wide of the post from a corner.
Soon after, Linfield would have a great opportunity themselves when Jordan Stewart broke through the Ports defence with just the keeper to beat, with Jethren Barr deflecting the Linfield number 10s shot onto the post.
Half time score:
Portadown 0
Linfield 0
On 55 minutes, Stephen Teggart volleyed wide after picking up a misplaced defensive header from the visitors following a corner.
On 59 minutes, Matthew Clarke had a shot cleared off the line by Paul Finnegan from a good position. A big opportunity missed by the visitors.
On 66 minutes, an Oisin Conaty cross just evaded the head of Lee Bonis in what would have been a certain goal for Portadown.
On 70 minutes this time the crossing roles were reversed, with Lee Bonis finding Oisin Conaty with a cross before the young winger had his effort saved by Chris Johns.
On 76 minutes, Adam Salley had a powerful shot parried away from danger by Chris Johns.
The game would end scoreless with the Ports earning a valuable point against last season’s champions, and special mention must go to 16 year old Reece Jordan for slotting in so seamlessly well at left back.
Full time score:
Portadown 0
Linfield 0
Match Officials:
Referee – Tony Clarke
Assistant 1 – Gavin Hegarty
Assistant 2 – Jamie Carnduff
4th official – Declan Hassan
Next game: Portadown vs Cliftonville in the Bet McLean League Cup at Shamrock Park. Tuesday 9th November with kick off at 7:45pm.
PSS Man of The Match: Paul Finnegan
(Chosen by sponsor PFC Groundstaff)
Match and Ball sponsors:
Sydney Stevenson- Stevenson Agencies
Stephen Dickson of Discount Blinds
Lewis Potts
Portadown XI (managed by Matthew Tipton): 19.Barr (GK), 2.Hall, 5.Finnegan, 6.McKeown (replaced by Jordan before kick off), 8.Tipton (replaced by Lavery 73’), 9.Salley, 10.Bonis (C), 14.Conaty, 15.Kerr, 20.S Teggart, 22.McLeod,
Portadown substitutes: 13.Brown (GK) (unused), 7.Lavery, 11.Anderson (unused), 23.Warde (unused), 25.Jordan, 27.Wood (unused), 36.E Teggart (unused)
Linfield XI (managed by David Healy): 1.Johns (GK), 2.Roscoe, 5.Shields, 6.Callagher (C), (booked 34’), 7.Millar (booked 49’), 8.Hume, 9.Manzinga, 10.Stewart, 16.Clarke, 31.Quinn, 77.Green (replaced by Chadwick 74’)
Linfield substitutes: 51.Walsh (GK) (unused), 3.Larkin (unused), 4.Newberry (unused), 30.Chadwick, 32.Salam (unused), 53.Archer (unused), 57.Marshall (unused)
Written by Alex Morrison.