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A number of years ago at Mourneview Park, a 'Boxing Day' clash between these
two local rivals had to be abandoned because of storm force winds but this year
the storms were confined to the pitch, with two players from each side being
dismissed. The first to see red was Glenavon's Shea Campbell for an off the ball
incident in the 32nd minute as the players lined up in the Portadown box for a
Glenavon free kick. Campbell was spotted by the assistant referee as he
retaliated to something he alleged was done to him by Michael Collins.
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Shea Campbell sees red in the 32nd minute |
Glenavon were the better side in the first half, even after going down to ten
men but, yet again, chances were missed. McMahon was guilty of the worst miss,
in the 8th minute, when he shot wide from the 'D'. With the goal at his mercy he
should at least have forced Miskelly into making a save. McAlinden had a couple
of headers, one saved by the Ports' keeper and the other over the bar and Walker
fired over from 18 yards after he had weaved his way through the Portadown
defence.
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Barry Reid sticks tight to Gary Hamilton |
At the other end Wes Boyle had a shot blocked by McAlinden and Hamilton fired
over from 12 yards after Clarke's run and through ball had set him up with a
great chance.
In the second half Portadown upped the pace and spread the ball wide to make
the most of the extra man but the goal, when it came, was a very scrappy
close-range effort. Second half substitute Vinnie Arkins flicked on Neill's
77th minute corner and the ball somehow came back off the post and Convery forced the rebound over
the line despite McDonald's best efforts to deny him. Ten minutes earlier the
Blues' stopper had pulled off a brilliant save to push Hamilton's shot from 8
yards over the bar after the striker had shown great skill to turn and find
himself a yard of space.
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This was Johnny Montgomery's final game for Glenavon
and he went out in style, playing a 'blinder' in his favoured central
defender role. |
Late on McAlorum and Boyle were both sent off when they clashed after Boyle
reacted angrily to McAlorum's late tackle which the referee had not initially penalised.
In the general melee that followed, other players were probably fortunate to
remain on the pitch.
In
the final minute he also dismissed Gary Hamilton when the striker picked up a second
yellow card, for 'simulation' after the referee adjudged that he had dived in the box having burst through
one-on-one with McDonald as Portadown broke quickly from a Glenavon corner..
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