Linfield

3

Portadown

2

BLUES GO FOUR POINTS CLEAR

20th Dec 2014

Linfield opened up a four point gap at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership following an enthralling defeat of Portadown in this five-goal thriller at Windsor Park.

The Blues moved in front after just two minutes when a short corner was flicked on by a Portadown defender in an attempted clearance only as far as Jimmy Callacher who headed home from point blank range.

Callacher almost added a second just over ten minutes later when his free-kick, which looked destined for the top right corner, was kept out by a scrambling David Miskelly.

The Blues continued to press with Ivan Sproule firing over while, on 29 minutes, Sammy Morrow was inches wide when he pounced on a poor Garry Breen back header only to lob the ball the wrong side of the left upright.

But, a minute later, Portadown were back on level terms when Ross Glendinning spilled a Peter McMahon effort with Sean Mackle guiding the ball over the line.

And, remarkably, Portadown then seized the advantage themselves three minutes after that courtesy of a Mark McAllister back post header - while another header shortly afterwards was directed onto the crossbar.

The game took another twist early in the second half after an Aaron Burns penalty - awarded following a Ross Redman foul on Sproule - crashed against the underside of the bar with referee Raymond Hetherington ruling that the ball had fallen over the line.

Linfield then moved back into the lead just before the hour mark when Sproule teed up Morrow to drill the ball past Miskelly.

Portadown thought they might have salvaged a point in stoppage time when Callacher upended McAllister to concede a penalty but Redman was unable to convert from the spot with his attempt being well saved by Glendinning.

Linfield: Ross Glendinning, Richards, Haughey, Callacher, Waterworth, Lowry, Burns, Morrow, Mulgrew, Sproule, Quinn subs Tuffey, Carvill, Millar, Reece Glendinning, Clucas

Portadown: Miskelly, Ramsey, Redman, Breen, P. McMahon, Mackle, Murray, McAllister, Gault, Garrett, Lyttle subs Brennan, Mouncey, Twigg, Conaty, M. McMahon

Referee: Raymond Hetherington

Attendance: 2091

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