Sports Direct Premiership
Cliftonville 2 Portadown 2
CLIFTONVILLE boss Jim Magilton rued a frustrating afternoon as his side twice threw away a lead in a 2-2 draw with Portadown at Solitude yesterday.
Ryan Curran’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Ahu Obhakhan’s equaliser and half an hour after Rory Hale had restored the advantage, Josh Ukek capitalised on David Odumosu’s indecision to hoist the Ports level and ensure they remain above the Reds in sixth place.
Magilton acknowledged it was a frustrating afternoon and admitted they were perhaps fortunate to take a point, with Portadown finishing stronger.
“It definitely was [a frustrating day]” he said.
“When we scored the goal, I thought when we had real control in the game and then we conceded a really sloppy goal.
“Dave [Odumosu] can take a touch and actually play out, but we didn’t, we didn’t stop the cross and it looped over his head.
“When we scored the second goal, I thought we were on top of the game then, and if we had a little bit more knowhow.
“Portadown had to come and seek an equaliser and we could have played through that, and we didn’t and that is the disappointing aspect.
“We didn’t stop the cross, David should have come out to collect it and didn’t do that.
“To be fair to them, they ended the game as the aggressor, and we didn’t have enough today.”
It took a while for the game to spring to life with Portadown first to threaten from a Steven McCullough cross that was glanced wide at the back post by Baris Altintop.
Midway through the half Shay McCartan saw his shot blocked by Odhran Casey and a few minutes later the former Glentoran attacker roamed into a dangerous position and saw his shot turned around the post by Odumosu.
The deadlock was broken after 32 minutes and against the run of play it fell to Cliftonville.
Shea Kearney’s cross from the left was missed by Eric McWoods and fell to Ryan Curran – he took a touch to control and with his second he poked past former team-mate Aaron McCarey to make it 1-0.
It was a short-lived lead, however, as Portadown hit back within two minutes. Steven McCullough clipped in a ball from the left that Ahu Obhakhan flicked over Odumosu and into the net to restore parity at the break.
The Reds began the second period positively as McCarey turned away McWoods’ shot.
They regained the lead on the 50th minute with a superb team goal.
McWoods picked out strike partner Curran in the box and he swept the ball to Hale to slot home and make it 2-1.
Luke Conlon blazed over after a late run into the area and substitute Alex Parsons saw an opportunity charged down by a combination of Altintop and substitute Divin Isamala.
Portadown hit back and levelled for a second time with 10 minutes remaining. Lee Chapman floated in a cross from the left that Odumosu flapped at and the ball dropped over the line.
It buoyed the visitors who pushed for a late winner, McCartan beat Jack Keaney for pace and his dangerous cross was turned behind for a corner by Casey.
Ex-Cliftonville midfielder Ben Wylie then saw his low effort clawed around the post by Odumosu and both sides were forced to share the spoils at the conclusion.
Like Magilton, Portadown boss Niall Currie was left with a sense of frustration – but his lay with Wylie’s late chance going begging rather than the performance.
“I thought the second-half performance was outstanding” he said.
“We gave away poor goals, which is very frustrating, but that save at the death from Odumosu, that is one of the best saves I have seen, we thought it was in.
“So, we come away a bit frustrated because the last 10-15 minutes, we had Cliftonville on the ropes and we were creating chances, but if you had said to me before the game would you have taken a point, I would have said yes.”
