Portadown–Bohemians

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Portadown bowed out of this years Setanta Sports Cup after a narrow 1-nil defeat at home in the second leg game against Bohemians at Shamrock Park tonight.  Adam Martin scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute, scoring from close range through a static home defence.  The Ports looked jaded after Saturdays match against Linfield and were without the influential midfielder Neil McCafferty who was on the bench for this game.  Bohemians looked lively and controlled and played the ball about with confidence without really causing Ports keeper Miskelly any real problems in the first half.  However as the match drifted towards a stalemate and the Ports needing a single goal to tie the fixture, Miskelly was called into action on more than one occasion to keep the youthful Bohs at bay.  It was no surprise then when Martin popped up for the visitors and snatched the late winner to send the Dublin team through into the next round.

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Portadown–Linfield

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Honours were even at Shamrock Park this afternoon as the Ports held league leaders Linfield in the match of the day.  Sean Mackle opened the scoring for the Ports a minute before the break as he took advantage of a Jim Ervin stumble, picked up the loose ball and hammered it past Blaney in the Linfield goals.  Linfield manager David Jeffrey was livid as he felt that Ervin had been fouled by Mackle and he made his views known to the referee as the two teams went in at the break.

The second half  saw Linfield step up the pace with Thompson and McAlister causing all sorts of problems for the Ports back four.  It was Thompson who scored the equaliser for the visitors with a trademark tap in from all of 12 inchs after McCafferty had failed to clear his lines.  It was cruel luck on the Ports who more than matched the champions for most of the 90 minutes, but Thompson is always a danger in the box and given a half chance he will punish you.

Substitute Aaron Burns almost snatched a late winner for Linfield when his goalbound header looped over David Miskelly and unto the bar.  With Cliftonville and Coleraine both losing today the Ports will be more than happy with the point this evening. 

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Martin is a mature student (Part time) at South Eastern Regional College Lisburn Campus. He commenced the photography course in September 2011 and is due to finish in May 2012 at GCSE level.  The  course is principally split in to 2 areas, Landscape and Portraiture.  Martin has already completed the landscape project and is now working on the portraiture.   His theme for this area is Sports photography.

Martin said “I am delighted that Portadown Football club have allowed me the opportunity to work with David for a day at the match between Portadown and Linfield. This will give me the chance to be pitch-side and I will hopefully be able to get a number of “good shots” of players, management and spectators. I will be trying to get images that show great facial expressions and emotions and of course the concentrated faces of the players, there is technique to all of this and I hope I can carry it off successfully”. 

“I must thank Portadown Football Club for their help in this project, it does show to us all that they, as a club are willing to engage with all types of requests from many forms.  So I would encourage anyone who may wish to participate in this or other subjects  to get in touch with the Club.”

“Once again my thanks to Portadown FC for this opportunity.  Wish me Luck!”

Martin must have the completed final images for his tutor/moderator by 5^th March 2012 and we hope to carry some with the match report accompanying the Linfield match.

Week 2 update:

From an original total of 327 entries, we have 121 fallers to date leaving 156 people  still standing.
For week 3 the entries are as follows :-
Chelsea 70
Man City 24
Newcastle 20
Man Utd 16
Liverpool 6
Stoke 5
Sunderland 5
Aston Villa 3
West Brom 2
Arsenal 2
Spurs 1
Swansea 1
QPR 1

Well done to those still in the mix

The league fixture against Linfield on 18th Feb 2012 will be an all ticket affair for both sets of supporters.

Tickets for Portadown Supporters will be available from the following outlets:

• Garys Bar, Edenderry, Portadown,
• NA Sports, Woodhouse St, Portadown,
• Gilford Road Car Sales, Carrickblacker, Portadown
• Shamrock Park – Friday 17th Feb 2012 at 6pm-8pm and Saturday 18th Feb 2012 at 10am-12pm.

SETANTA CUP -  Portadown v Bohemians – Mon 20th February 2012 KO 7:45PM

Match tickets are not required for the Setanta Cup return fixture against Bohemians next Monday evening

Bohemians–Portadown

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 Portadown lost 2-1 to Bohemians in Dublin tonight in the first leg of this years Setanta Sports Cup competition.  Bohs scored in the 44th minute when Dinny Corcoran chipped Miskelly from 20 yards with the Ports keeper well off his line.  Up until that point it was the Ports who had the lions share of possession and Bohs keeper Craig Sexton was the busier of the two keepers. 

Bohs doubled their lead with a cracking goal from Karl Moore who rifled the ball into the top conrner of the net from 25 yards in the 57th minute.   The goal shocked the Ports into life and Kevin Braniff gave them a lifeline with a headed goal 3 minutes later after a flickon by Gartland at the near post.

Despite the Ports pressing hard they never looked like getting the equaliser with the young Bohs always looking dangerous on the break.  The return fixture is next Monday 20th February with a 7:45pm ko.

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Officials from Portadown FC and Portadown FC Youth invited parents and young players to a weekend launch at ShamrockPark, in what was viewed as the first steps towards an ambitious restructuring of youth coaching in the town.

The idea for the Academy came about following a trip to Scotland by senior officials from Portadown FC who visited the highly-respected Falkirk project earlier in the season.  The Ports officials were very impressed with the Falkirk set-up and were enthused about replicating a similar project in Portadown.  They recognized they already had great potential in the area following hard work carried out over a number of years by Portadown FC Youth which has resulted in a thriving programme for players in the region.  It is envisaged that an Academy would work in tandem with the established Youth body to ensure a positive future. 

Following discussions between and the parent club and Portadown FC Youth, the formation of the Elite Soccer Academy was agreed and the project was officially launched last weekend at ShamrockPark.  Officials from Portadown FC Youth are excited by the strengthened ties between themselves and the senior club and are enthusiastic about the prospects for the Academy.

From humble beginnings just 13 years ago with just 15 players in one team, Portadown FC Youth now offers 17 sides each matchday and coaching to over 200 children.  It is now one of the largest clubs withinNorthern Irelandand the progress has been such that, as of this season, most teams now host two training sessions each week.

In the first stage of the development, Youngsters have been selected from Portadown FC Youth to participate in a six-week trial programme designed to enhance existing natural talent via intensive one-on-one coaching sessions.  Portadown’s first team coach, Trevor Williamson and current player, Matthew Tipton, will work with small 12-strong groups of prospects over an hour-long indoor period each week at The Football Warehouse.

The Portadown Elite Soccer Academy programme is expecting to develop hometown talent for the Irish League club, plus potentially prepare a select few for opportunities across the water.

With financial restrictions a growing issue within the domestic game, a fresh approach to youth development is vital for the future of Portadown Football Club and the Academy course will provide a crucial foundation towards a career in the sport.

The current Ports senior panel includes graduates of the club’s existing youth format such as Matthew Paget, Ross Redman, Wesley Boyle, Keith O’Hara and Richard Clarke.  The goal for the Elite Soccer Academy programme is to put in place a system designed to increase the percentage of players progressing up the ranks.

The one-on-one programme is designed to build up technical skills and encourage individual progress.  By working with 12 kids at a time from three age groups covering under 11s to under 16s, Trevor and Matthew will aim to develop those players and prepare the boys for a future in the game.

The Academy’s focus centres on more than just the playing side however, with advice on other crucial areas considered important aspects including preparation for a match and correct nutrition.

Feedback from parents has been positive so far and with their support it is hoped that the Academy will help establish a solid base for the next generation and give youngsters the best possible opportunity to turn natural talent into something long-term.

 Photos from the launch by David Maginnis

• Winners – €50,000
• Defeated Finalists – €30,000
• Defeated in SF – €15,000
• Defeated in QF – €10,000
• Defeated in Round 1 – €7,500

• Win bonus – €2,000
• Draw bonus – €1,000 (each team)
• Live broadcast – €1500 (home team)
• Live broadcast – €500 (away team)

Lisburn Distillery–Portadown

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Portadown kept the pressure on Linfield with a hard earned victory over Lisburn Distillery at Ballyskeagh this afternoon.  Goals from Gary Breen and Andrew Burns were enough to see off a determined home side who battled hard but rarely troubled David Miskelly during the 90 minutes.  Gary Breen popped up wioth a trademark backpost header from a Tomelty cross in the 22nd minute.  Andrew Burns continued with the good form that he showed against Ballymena and was rewarded with a goal which deflected off Simpson in the 83rd minute to double the Ports lead.

The gloss was taken off the victory somewhat by the loss of young star Matthew Paget with what looked like a serious knee injury which he sustained in the second half following an accidental clash with Ferguson.

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