Matthew Tipton was the hero of the day with two goals against league leaders and reigning Carling Champions Linfield at Shamrock Park today.  The Ports went into this fixture on a high after beating the other half of the Belfast big-two Glentoran last week, but from previous encounters few Ports supporters would have guessed the eventual outcome ahead of this match.

The Ports midfield was the key to this victory, McCabe and McCafferty were outstanding and were well assisted by Mackle and Tomelty who snuffed out the presence of Gault and Garrett who never had a chance.  Thompson and Patterson were a constant threat, but they were starved of decent ball and rarely got beyond the Ports defence where Gartland and Ramsey were commanding.

The Ports opened the scoring in the 60th minute when Gartland was pulled back in the box by Watson and referee had little choice but to award the spot kick.  Up stepped Tipton and he coolly slotted the penalty firmly inside Blayneys right hand post.  It was little more than the Ports deserved for their dominance of this game.

Tipton got a deserved second two minutes from normal time when he latched unto a ball headed on by Braniff, outpaced Douglas and clipped the ball over the advancing Blayney for the winner.  A superb finish.

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