Linfield’s perfect start to the season came to an end this evening as the Blues conceded a last-gasp equaliser to Portadown during five minutes of additional time at Shamrock Park.
Unchanged for the fifth consecutive match, The Blues were dominant in the first half and once again took an early lead. It came from a clever corner routine as Kirk Millar took a corner short to Joel Cooper who found Chris McKee in a central area outside the box, and he clipped a cross into strike partner Matthew Fitzpatrick at the back post where the forward did brilliantly on the stretch to generate enough power to beat McCarey and grab his first league goal of the season.
In front of a sold out crowd, David Healy’s men created chance after chance but were unable to double their lead. Matthew Fitzpatrick was disappointed not to score a second just a short time after the opener as his run in behind was fed by a well-timed pass by Chris McKee. However, once through on goal, Portadown ‘keeper McCarey came out on top with a save.
Joel Cooper was unlucky to be denied by the woodwork when Kyle McClean’s quick thinking over a quick free-kick saw the midfielder find the winger advancing into the box. Cooper’s shot from a tight angle hit the post and then rebounded off the back of the ‘keeper but, luckily for him, it went wide of the post for a corner.
The winger then put one on a plate for Chris McKee with a clever square ball across the Portadown box, however the striker’s shot lacked power and was saved comfortably. On another occasion, Cooper rolled his man on the right wing with a nice turn, however his eventual cross was too high for Chris McKee to get his head on from a central position. The Blues could have been four-up inside half-an-hour.
Linfield were made to rue their missed opportunities when the newly-promoted home side equalised in the 37th minute. It came through a move down the left side as Ports’ wing-back Steven McCullough broke through a challenge from Scot Whiteside before squaring the ball across goal for Ahu Obhakhan to convert at close range. The Blues seemed to be disappointed that they weren’t given a free-kick for a foul on Cooper in the build-up.
The Blues almost responded within a couple of minutes as Ethan McGee’s cross from the right was met by Matthew Fitzpatrick got good purchase on a header, however Portadown ‘keeper Aaron McCarey made a great diving save.
HT: Portadown 1-1 Linfield
Having had it all their own way for the majority of the first half, Linfield suddenly had a very tough game on their hands after Portadown’s equalising goal gave the hosts a surge in belief.
Chances were few and far between in the first 20 minutes of a physical second half, with Linfield’s only real threat coming from a low cross from Fitzpatrick from the right, from which Chris McKee was a matter of inches away from making a contact.
With the Blues struggling to create, David Healy looked to his bench and introduced Charlie Allen into the action in place of Chris McKee. The Blues then retook the lead three minutes later, in the 70th minute, as Sam Roscoe threaded a neat ball through to Joel Cooper in a pocket of space and he in turn did the same to put Matthew Fitzpatrick through on goal as the striker found the far corner with a low finish for his second goal of the night.
Fitzpatrick then did well to get a headed flick-on into the box and Charlie Allen showed great pace to get on the end of it, however his low shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.
The Blues lost Euan East through injury with ten minutes remaining – he was replaced by Ryan McKay, then, two minutes later, Josh Archer replaced Joel Cooper who’d emptied the tank. Linfield were trying to manage the game but Portadown naturally threw everything at it and the Blues struggled to take the sting out of the game.
After a couple of corners and crosses, Portadown hit the Blues with a last-ditch sucker-punch, equalising four-and-a-half minutes into the five additional minutes. Chris Johns came out to meet a deep cross and didn’t get the desired depth on a punched clearance which landed for Portadown substitute Ryan Mayse who, to his credit, connected with the sweetest of volleys which sailed high into the net. Ethan McGee was on the line and got something on it, but not enough to keep it out.
A tough one to take for the Blues, whose unwanted knack of conceding late goals has cost them dearly in the past six months.
The Blues travel to Ballyclare in Co. Antrim Shield action on Tuesday evening before returning to Premiership action on September 14 against Larne, with next Saturday’s match against Crusaders postponed due to International call-ups.
FT: Portadown 2-2 Linfield
