Portaferry plunder points with double goal blast

26 February 2014

PORTAFERRY stretched their lead at the top of the 1C table when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two late goals at Bells Bridge on Saturday.

Ballynahinch Olympic, who are now four points behind their old adversaries in second place, led from the 26th minute with a goal from Nyal Walsh. The home side held on resolutely to this lead until the last 12 minutes when Portaferry scored twice inside 10 minutes to secure the spoils.

Portaferry, who were playing against the wind in the first half, settled first and with just two minutes gone Ciaran Coulter embarked on a 60 yard run that took him to the edge of the Olympic box.

Alas, he was unable to get any power in his parting shot and Gerard Marks made a comfortable save.

Seven minutes later at the other end an inviting free kick form Mark Sloan begged to be put away, but the ball evaded everyone in the six yard box and drifted wide.

The game became bogged down in the middle for a while before a misplaced clearance from John Convery ended up at Ryan Noade’s feet, but he shot wide from a good position.

The breakthrough came four minutes later when another dangerous free kick from Sloan crashed off the crossbar and was headed home by an alert Walsh, despite the best efforts of Convery and ‘keeper Stephen Keith on the line.

Portaferry continued with their patient, probing passing game and Paul Milligan and Ryan Noade were booked as the intensity went up a notch. With 33 minutes gone Portaferry went close to grabbing the equaliser when a long throw from Coulter was missed by everyone in the box and the chance went abegging.

Two minutes later Milligan, who was involved in everything for Portaferry and who has lost none of his armoury of skills, picked out Darren Black with a well-placed free kick.

Unfortunately, the former Strangford player shot tamely at Marks from a great position.

Portaferry continued to pose problems for Olympic and with 37 minutes gone Coulter threaded a ball into Aaron McCarthy, but Jason Noade cleared his strike off the line.

Less than a minute later Michael Doran was inches away from getting onto the end of cross from David Fitzsimons. Olympic finished the first half on the attack and yet another piercing free kick from Sloan was met by Liam O’Hare, but his effort went wide.

Three minutes into the second half McCarthy lobbed a pass into Doran out on the left hand side of the box, but the former Glentoran and Bangor striker volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Olympic retaliated with a quick counterattack, but Chris McNamara and Walsh’s partnership was brought to a halt by Andy Mason.

With 61 minutes gone Milligan chanced his arm with a free kick from distance, but his strike went over the top. Two minutes later at the other end McNamara also blasted over following another counterattack.

Olympic were then dealt a fatal blow when O’Hare was harshly red carded for a challenge out on the flank and with him went Ballynahinch’s victory hopes.

Portaferry came at Olympic with renewed hunger and made full use of their numerical advantage.

Portaferry had a Colin Trainor goal disallowed in the 75th minute before they finally equalised two minutes later when a Black free kick from nearly 40 yards out squirmed from Marks’ grasp and rolled over the line. The Ports went for the kill and the winner came in the 88th minute when a looping cross from Black was bundled home at the near post by Coulter.

Ballynahinch Olympic: G. Marks, P. Flanagan, M. Sloan, K. Rogan, J. Noade, S. McGouran, C. Reid, R. Noade, C. McNamara, L. O’Hare, N. Walsh. Subs: D. Lyons, M. Savage, C. Quinn.

Portaferry: S. Keith, T. Merron, B. Fitzsimons, P. Milligan, A. Mason, J. Convery, D. Fitzsimons, D. Black, C. Coulter, M. Doran, A. McCarthy. Subs: C. McCarthy, E. Curran, C. Trainor.

Ballynahinch Olympic 1

Portaferry 2

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1C

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