The hard tackling midfielder becomes the third player to join the Ports since the end of the season as Ronnie McFall bids to strengthen his squad ahead of the Europa League matches in early July.

Club officials are also in talks with club stalwart Richard Clarke in respect of a joint playing/coaching role at the club. 

Unfortunately with the pressure to reduce costs both Wes Boyle and Conor McCloskey have not been offered new contracts.   We wish to thank both players for their contribution and wish them every success in the future.

Cliftonville–Portadown

2 - 3

Matthew Tipton set the Ports on the road to Europe with a scintillating first half blitz on Cliftonville which saw him net three goals inside 38 minutes at Solitude.  It was a superb battling performance from the whole team, considering that many of the players have been playing with injuries of some kind for several weeks.  Kevin Braniff made a welcome return and played cautiosly throughout, nursing his injured hamstring, but his presence was undoubtably a factor in Tiptons magical fisrt half display. 

Tiptons first came in the 19th minute when he turned and shot inside the box.  The Ports lead was short-lived though as Gormley netted almost immediately from the restart to put the home team back on level terms.  The Ports supporters needn’t have worried as Tiptons second came in the 27th minute.  It was a real strikers goal as he raced in to connect with a near post cross from Brown to edge the ball home in front of McAlinden.   Ten minutes later Tipton scored his hattrick from the penalty spot after Tomelty was floored by a rash challenge from McMullan inside the box.  Tipton almost added a fourth near half-time as he raced clear of the home defence and curled a shot just wide of the advancing Ryan Brown.  

The second half was almost all Cliftonville as they pushed forward in numbers, pinning the Ports into their own half and only allowing them rare opportunities to get forward. It was no surprise then when Gormley got his second after being set-up by Scannell.  However as   defense stood resolute, Cliftonville began to run out of ideas and resorted to high balls into the box which was easy fodder from Tuda Murphy who’s handling was impeccable.  The Ports held on to take the win, second place in the league and that valuable European spot.  

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Cliftonville have also confirmed that kids under 11 be will be admitted free on Saturday if accompanied by a paying adult.  So why not gather up the family and head down to Solitude this Saturday for what promises to be an exciting finale to the season.

Update: 22-04-12

Liverpool’s failure to beat West Brom today means there are only 3 players left standing.
Fulham (2) and Newcastle (1) were the teams to send the 3 lucky punters into next week’s shoot out.
The 3 finalists are:

Lee Leckey
Steve McChesney
Keith Watson
This being round 11, finding a winning team that they have not yet selected is going to be mighty tough
Well done to the 3 lads and good luck for next week.

£500 awaits the lucky winner.

Coleraine–Portadown

4 - 1

 Portadowns European ambitions hang by a thread tonight after a defeat against forth-placed Coleraine allowed Cliftonville to regain second place in the league.   The Ports are now a point behind Cliftonville and three ahead of Coleraine who have a match in hand, albeit against Linfield.  It now means that the Ports have to beat Cliftonville in next Saturdays final league game at Solitude if they are to have any chance of playing in Europe this season.  A tall order indeed given the dire injury crisis which has plagued the Ports from the turn of the year. 

The Ports will want to forget this match in a hurry, as they struggled to muster any real challenge against a younger fitter Coleraine team who fought for every ball and were worthy 4-1 winners on the day.  The lack of strength in depth and growing injury list came back to haunt the Ports today as injured players struggled to keep pace with  the homesides workrate.   Indeed that growing  injury list  appeared to have lengthened during thois game as centre-half Gary Breen was stretchered off before half-time and striker Richard Lecky looked to have injured his left arm following a rugged battle with David Ogilby all afternoon.   For the record, MatthCew Tipton scored the only goal of the day for the Ports with a close range finish past Cullen in the Coleraine goals.  His teammates will be hoping he can perform a similar task next Saturday against Cliftonville and that it will be enough to see them reach that European goal

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