Wilkinson Sword

7th August

Glentoran 1 Portadown 2

Ports See Off Champions

"Showpiece Marred By Sendings-Off"

Portadown today emerged victorious in an explosive and extraordinary Wilkinson Sword Charity Shield encounter with the Glens. Twin Strikers Vinny Arkins and Paul Millar scored the crucial goals for the Mid Ulster outfit but perhaps the real hero on the day was goalkeeper Tim Dalton who saved Stuart Elliott's injury time penalty, just when the Glens looked like getting away with a draw. And to think the Irish Cup holders ended the game with nine men due to the sendings off Liam Dunne and Greg Davison. The Glens who scored through substitute Darren Finlay, didn't end the match with their full quota either as Chris Walker saw red. It was unbelievable for the 2,000 crowd at Mourneview Park, remember the real stuff isn't supposed to start until next week.

The Ports who included new signings Raymond Campbell and Liam Dunne from the start, but not Tony Sheridan due to an FAI block on his International clearance began brightly with the wind behind. Raymond Byrne saw his header brilliantly cleared off the line by Walker and that was followed by Alan Gough's smart save from Richard Clarke's curler. It was no real surprise then when the Shamrock Park outfit took the lead on 25 minutes through goalscorer supreme Arkins his splendid bicycle kick sailing into the net after Byrne had nodded Dunne's deep corner back into the danger area. What was shocking however was the indiscipline shown throughout the first half bu both sets of players. Walker, Glentoran's captain on the day with Pete Batey on the bench received his marching orders on 34 minutes for two bookable offences and then Dunne followed him to the dressing room 60 seconds later this one a straight red for a brutal foul on Scott Young. Unfortunately these were not isolated incidents, referee Alan Snoddy could have dismissed a few more. As it was he booked Glentoran's Steve Livingstone, Michael Ferguson, and Stuart Elliott plus Greg Davison from Portadown _ Ferguson and Davison particularly lucky to stay on after committing vicious fouls. And let's not forget the disgraceful set to between Tim McCann and Clarke on eight minutes which lit this disturbing firework. Charity _ not a bit of it. The football itself in that dramatic first period was actually quite progressive at times with the foraging Byrne going close for the Ports minutes after Elliott almost found the net with Tim Dalton AWOL only for Davison rushing back to clear the lines. The second half was not so controversial but it remained competitive. Clearly there's no love lost between these sides.

The Glens endeavouring to equalise as soon as possible after the break nearly did so on 51 minutes when a neat move involving Young and David Rainey ended with Ports keeper Dalton making a spectacular save from Elliott's fierce drive. You could sense there were more goals to be had in this encounter and so it proved on 65 minutes when Ronnie McFall's side doubled their lead. Again the goal came from a corner this time Campbell swinging it in, Brian Strain heading down and Millar superbly swivelling and hooking the ball home in one movement. The Glens aren't champions for nothing though. They weren't about to give this one up, and four minutes later Roy Coyle's team pulled one back through substitute Darren Finlay just on the pitch who produced an exquisite right foot swerving shot from 25 yards into the net. It was a glorious strike and you could tell by the goalscorers's celebrations how much he enjoyed it. The drama was not over. In Injury time the Glens were awared a penalty when substitute Batey saw his shot handled on the line by Davison. The Ports defender was sent off but Dalton proceeded to save Elliott's spot kick to provide McFall's men with a famous victory in a quite remarkabe match.

Referee Mr Alan Snoddy