After the excitement of the 6 goal thriller at Shamrock Park last week, today’s match turned out to be a dour battle of attrition with little evidence of free flowing football from either side in the bright sunlight of Suffolk Road.   The Ports looked out of sorts and never were allowed to settle by a battling home side who fought for every loose ball.  The Ports definitely weren’t keen on some of the robust challenges meated out by DC, and they voiced their concerns on several occasions to the officials.   There were few clear chances for either side during the first half as the game got stuck in a midfield battle with neither team seemingly capable of getting hold of the ball and controlling play.  The teams went in at the break all square. 

This was always going to be a game for grafting for points and it became even harder for the Ports when DC went ahead after the break when Mark Miskimmin ghosted into the right side of the box and fired past Miskelly from a tight angle in the 57th minute. 

The goal sent shock-waves through the travelling support and forced the Ports to re-organise themselves with Chris Casement, Ryan Burns and Michael McLellan making way for Sean Mackle, Darren Murray and Richard Lecky.  Despite increasing the pressure on the home team, the Ports failed to take any of the half-chances that came their way until Garry Breen saved the day with a superb lob from all of 25 yards after racing through the home defence to latch on to a McCafferty pass and lifting the ball high over the advancing Murphy in the DC goal.   Que roars of encouragement from the travelling reds fans, but with only seconds left on the clock, the chances of securing all three points had all but evaporated.