A Portadown goal in the final minute gave them a deserved win at Shamrock Park this afternoon after Glentoran had taken a first half lead.

The Glens retained a number of the teenagers who had performed so well in the County Antrim Shield in midweek but it was Portadown who had the better of the opening exchanges.  Tim Mouncey headed just over from a Jamie Tomelty cross while Elliott Morris did well to save a Kevin Braniff drive from the edge of the area.  With a quarter of an hour gone Glentoran took the lead against the run of play.  Sean Ward’s free kick from deep was headed down by Jimmy Callacher, Owain Beggs touched it on to Ciaran Martyn whose close range effort took a deflection off a defender wrong footing Portadown goalkeeper David Miskelly and the ball bounced over the line.  The goal gave the young Glens team a lift and the strong running of Jim O’Hanlon and Owain Beggs was causing the Portadown defence some problems.  On 20 minutes O’Hanlon played a neat one-two with Jimmy Callacher but his shot was well saved by Miskelly and ten minutes later some great play from Beggs released Stephen Carson whose driven cross just evaded the onrushing forwards.
As half time approached the experienced and physically powerful Portadown side started to turn the screw on the Glentoran defence.  Jamie Tomelty’s corner was headed down by Brian Gartland and Matthew Tipton just failed to connect from close range and a short time later Tipton did get an effort on target but it was well beaten out by Morris.  Four minutes from the break Tipton was in the action again, his dipping shot from the edge of the area beating Morris but coming back off the post.
At half time Scott Young replaced Owain Beggs, who had received a knock in the first half, with Darren Boyce.  Portadown started the second half the way they had left off in the first, but the Glens defence was resolute with Colin Nixon outstanding at its heart.  Despite the Portadown pressure the Glens had one of the best chances of the game on 55 minutes when Matty Johnston won a great tackle on the right and sent Martin Murray clear of the Portadown defence.  As Miskelly came off his line Murray elected to try to lob him but he didn’t get enough height on the ball and the Portadown ‘keeper was able to save easily.  While Portadown were enjoying the bulk of the possession and pressure they were creating few clear cut chances and had only a Kevin Braniff drive which flew wide of the goal to show for their second half efforts after 70 minutes.
With a quarter of an hour left and just as the visiting support were hoping that Glentoran could hold out for three points Portadown grabbed an equaliser.  Kevin Braniff sent Keith O’Hara away on the right and his low cross was turned in from close range by Matthew Tipton.  Buoyed by this Portadown continued to push forward in search of a winner and on 81 minutes Tim Mouncey should have done better from a Ross Redman cross but his header cleared the bar. 
As the game entered the 90th minute the Glentoran contingent would have been very happy to settle for the point, but there was to be a final twist.  Jamie Tomelty’s right wing corner was headed towards goal by Brian Gartland and Tipton nipped in front of the defenders to bundle the ball over the line for the winner.  A cruel end to the game as for the second Saturday in a row the Glens concede a last minute winner and the fans will be looking for a better performance and three points from the visit of Carrick Rangers next Saturday.

Glentoran
Elliott Morris, Matthew Johnston (sub Jaimie McGovern 80 mins), Colin Nixon, Sean Ward, David Howland, Jim O’Hanlon, Ciaran Martyn, Jimmy Callacher, Stephen Carson (sub Richard Clarke 60 mins), Martin Murray, Owain Beggs (sub Darren Boyce 45 mins)

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