Carrick Rangers gave Portadown a footballing lesson tonight at Seaview as they dominated play for long periods of the game and had the Ports all at sea with their direct one touch passing game.  The Ports struggled to get to grips with their opposition and the slippery Seaview surface and never looked comfortable on the ball.  It was the Ports who opened the scoring in the 8th minute when Kevin Braniff soared highest in the box to head home a Chris Ramsey cross giving the Carrick keeper no chance.  If Ports fans were expecting the floodgates to open they were sorely disappointed as it was Carrick who coped better with the conditions and had Ports keeper David Miskelly working hardest to maintain that 1 goal advantage.  It was no surprise whenever they did equlaise through a thunderous 20 yard strike by Owens which dipped over Miskelly and into the back of the Ports goal.

Into the second half and Ronnie McFall replaced the ineffective Conor McCloskey with Wes Boyle.  However it was Carrick who began to dominate the game as the Ports looked lethargic and out-of-sorts all over the pitch.  A glimmer of hope arrived in the 75th minute as Tipton was on hand inside the Carrick six-yard box to tap home after the Carrick keeper spilled a Breen throw-in at the strikers feet.   Ports fans were releived, but that relief turned to disbelief in the 90th minute as the normally reliable Brian Gartland totally misjudged a bouncing ball at the back allowing Carrick sub Lagan in to score past Miskelly from 6 yards out. 

A disappointing game from the Ports point of view and even more so when news filtered through that league leaders Linfield had also been held to a draw.  It has to be viewed as an opportunity lost, but take nothing away from Carrick who fulled deserved at least a point from this game and most Ports fans wouldn’t disagree with that conclusion.

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