NO PORT IN THIS STORM

DAVID Scullion knows a thing or two about a promotion bid and he believes his Annagh United side have what it takes to go up.

One of the driving forces in Larne’s ascent to the Premiership last season, the 35-yearold made the move to the PIL outfit in the summer.

And his experience and quality has helped put the Portadown side top of the table.

A quarter of the way through their Premier Intermediate League campaign and Ciaran Mcgurgan’s men have four wins from five to set the early pace.

They underlined their determination to drive for the promotion line with defeat of rivals Bangor at the weekend.

But they had to come from behind on the Tandragee Road after Isaac Fletcher headed the Seasiders in front with his third in three games.

But Annagh’s top scorer Ruairi Mcdonald superbly plundered his 12th of the season to level and Jackson Holmes fired in the winner on 66 minutes.

The side which Mcgurgan (circled) fielded in that game was replete with not just talented rising stars but men who have performed at the highest level in the local game.

As well as Scullion, they had ex-glentoran ace Niall Henderson (pictured below in action with Bangor’s Jack Wasson) and former Portadown striker Scott Mccordick with Sean Mackle, John Convery and Gerard Kerr watching on.

Scullion, who also turned out for Glenavon, Dungannon Swifts, the Glens, Derry City and Coleraine after coming home from Aston Villa in 2002, told Match On Tuesday: “The balance in the squad is really good.

“There are some really good younger players such as Ruairi and boys with Premiership experience.

“We have a pretty small squad but the blend is great.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start really although losing to Belfast Celtic in the cup was very disappointing.

“But the league is our priority and we’re going well in the Mid-ulster Cup so it’s about keeping the momentum going now as much as we can.

“There’s not a massive difference between the Championship and our league.

“There’s no real favourites and it’s just about who goes on a run.

“It’s hard because one week you’re playing in a cup and the next the league and then no league game for a few weeks.

“You’re jumping between different types of teams too.

“All of the games we’ve won have been tight and maybe just that bit of experience we have made the difference in the end.

“Really with the squad we have we should be pushing on for the league and these players are more than capable of doing so.”

A 3-1 defeat at Belfast

Celtic in the Irish Cup was a brief blip on the record books of the Annagh’s season thus far.

They rammed their way into round two of the Intermediate

Cup with a 6-0 win at Newtowne and have a Mid-ulster Cup semi-final to look forward to after doing for Newry City AFC in the previous round.

All that follows a run which also saw them batter neighbours Portadown

6-1 in the same competition.

But it’s rare back-to-back PIL fixtures which are the focus for

UNPLAYABLE Portstewart danced in the rain to end Newington’s perfect league start in emphatic fashion on Saturday. The North Belfast side ventured to the windswept north coast knowing a win could open a four-point gap on their opponents. But Conor Crossan’s side weren’t so much weather beaten as savaged by the Seahawks across 90 minutes of uncompromising football. Five different players forced their way onto the scoresheet for Johnny Law’s dominant force. Mark Edgar (below), John Watt, Karl Steel, Chris Hanson and Eoin Gillan strikes saw the hosts reign amid the downpours. Meanwhile, Banbridge Town’s run without a league win extended to five. James Costello had put the Town in front away to Limavady United – only for Logue to level things at the break. Downey restored the away side’s lead when he got on the end of Moffatt’s corner. However, there was to be a final twist in the tail as the referee awarded a 90th minute spot-kick to the Roesiders and Mccarrron duly dispatched it. Moyola Park picked up their first win of the campaign to rise off the bottom spot. Connor Lundy and Michael Tolan were on the scoresheet in the second half to get the better of Lisburn Distillery at New Grosvenor and make it four games without a league win for the Whites. This weekend, Distillery are back on their travels seeking to arrest their slide down the division. Their hosts Tobermore United go into the game propping up the rest of the league so will be scrapping for a win of their own. Banbridge Town’s bid to get their first win sees them welcome the leaders Annagh United to Crystal Park. Bangor are back at home for the first time since losing to Portstewart with Moyola Park their visitors. Meanwhile, the riding-high Seahawks have a home game against fourth-placed Dollingstown with Newington looking to pick things up again when they go to Armagh City. LAW MAN Johnny’s side are in fine form HIGH HOPES David Scullion has added valuable experience to Annagh’s promotion push