Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PORTADOWN 1 LINFIELD 2 Ports will Stew on it
LAST-GASP AGONY FOR HOSTS
LINFIELD survived a scare to book their place in the semi-finals of the Betmclean Cup with a last-gasp win over Portadown at Shamrock Park.
Jordan Stewart struck in the 91st minute to edge David Healy’s men to a dramatic 2-1 win and a last four date with Dungannon Swifts next Tuesday night.
Ryan Carmichael had earlier cancelled out Michael O’connor’s early opener for the Blues as the Championship men threatened a shock in Mid-ulster.
Healy (inset) had made four changes from Saturday’s defeat at Ballymena, with Mark Stafford coming in at the heart of defence for the suspended Josh Robinson.
And it was winger Stewart and striker O’connor – both on the bench at the weekend – who combined for Linfield’s eighth minute opener.
Kirk Millar fed Stewart and his run and shot was saved by the diving Declan Dunne, only for the ball to fall for O’connor who swept home his sixth goal of the season.
Millar headed a teasing Niall Quinn cross over the bar as the visitors sought to hammer home their advantage, before Portadown spurned a glorious chance before the break.
The lively Carmichael cut the ball back for the onrushing Adam Salley 18 yards out, but the former Linfield forward scuffed wide of target.
The Blues were left wondering how they didn’t double their lead on 55 minutes when they twice rattled the woodwork inside a minute.
Quinn’s deflected drive from 30 yards out crashed off the bar and struck beaten keeper Dunne on the head before ricocheting out for a corner.
And from Clarke’s resulting delivery, centre back Stafford’s close range header saw the ball cannon off the post.
Portadown, with just two wins in their previous seven games prior to last night, shocked the Blues with a 70th minute equaliser.
Sean Mackle’s corner was flicked towards the back post where Carmichael reacted quickest to head past Carroll on his 100th appearance for Linfield.
Carmichael fired wide as the Ports chased a winner, while at the other end Lorcan Forde just failed to get on the end of a Stewart cross.
Stewart won it for Linfield at the death, firing home at the back post for only his second goal of the season.