Chris Rodgers retains his cool as Glenavon bid to profit from a goalmouth scramble
Alan O’Sullivan enjoys the second after the primary of his two objectives in Portadown’s victory over Glenavon
Stephen Teggart jumps for pleasure after firing Portadown into an early lead in opposition to Glenavon
Niall Currie declared his first Mid Ulster derby win because the proudest second of his managerial profession.
The elated Portadown boss poured reward on his gamers and devoted the 3-1 success over Glenavon to the followers who roared their crew to victory proper from Stephen Teggart’s early opener till substitute Alan O’Sullivan secured the factors together with his second of the match within the ninetieth minute.
In distinction, crushed Glenavon supervisor Gary Hamilton mentioned he was “completely disgusted” with a efficiency that he claimed let down the membership and their supporters, with solely goalkeeper Rory Brown and teenage midfielder Jamie Doran being exonerated.
“That is most likely the spotlight for me and my coronary heart continues to be pumping out of my chest,” mentioned a delighted Currie.
“I’m very excited and it’s nice to see so many smiles on faces — and that’s precisely what it’s about.
“You possibly can see the response from the followers. The place is bouncing and it’s a big day for me as a Portadown supporter as effectively.
“To say I’m a proud man would most likely be an understatement.”
Hamilton was something however happy with his crew, maintaining his gamers within the dressing room for nearly an hour as he dissected the efficiency earlier than giving his response.
“I’m disgusted,” he blasted. “I maintain my palms up, I’m the supervisor and I decide the crew.
“We’ve let the supporters and the membership down massively. I’m completely disgusted with the efficiency.
“It’s so irritating as a result of anybody who noticed us in opposition to Crusaders on Tuesday evening, it was the identical crew that took to the pitch and we have been 1-0 down after a few minutes .
“We seemed as if we’d by no means defended earlier than.
“Just for Rory, it could have been a a lot larger scoreline and I additionally should excuse Jamie Doran from that efficiency as a result of he was completely excellent.
“The worrying factor is that an 18-year-old child is the participant we have been counting on.”
Currie, nevertheless, went via a spread of feelings after Teggart pounced on a poor header from Calum Birney to place the Ports forward with simply two minutes on the clock after which noticed Paul McElroy miss a attainable hat-trick earlier than Cathair Friel did not convert from the penalty spot when he was denied by Brown on the stroke of half-time.
Even when O’Sullivan doubled the lead on 71 minutes with a shot that bobbled over the road, the Ports couldn’t chill out.
Glenavon had spurned earlier possibilities, notably when Matthew Fitzpatrick’s shot hit Eoin Bradley in entrance of purpose, earlier than giving themselves a lifeline when Danny Wallace volleyed residence from a few yards out with eight minutes left.
Currie and the Ports followers have been lastly in a position to get pleasure from a victory within the dying moments when O’Sullivan went one-on-one with Brown and coolly side-footed into the underside nook from 15 yards.
“I assumed we made it a wee bit tough for ourselves within the second half. I believe we should always have been coming in at half-time at the least three or 4 up,” mentioned Currie.
“We have been on it, we seemed hungry, we had need and we needed it greater than them — which I believe goes an extended, good distance in soccer.”
The Ports are nonetheless an enormous 11 factors adrift of security on the foot of the Danske Financial institution Premiership desk and Currie is demanding extra, with the hope that this win is the spark for a run of victories.
“I believe each recreation now turns into must-win for us,” he mentioned.
“We now have a goal set. This month is big and we’ve got video games in opposition to groups round us that we really feel we will be aggressive in.”
PORTADOWN: Mastny 6, Wilson 8, Rodgers 7, McKeown 8, Balde 6 (Chapman, 21 minutes, 6), Archer 6, McCawl 7, Russell 7, Teggart 8, Friel 6, McElroy 6 (O’Sullivan, 64 minutes, 8). Unused subs: Barr, Upton, Stedman, Jordan, Igiehon.
GLENAVON: Brown 6, Ward 6, Birney 6, Wallace 7, Rogers 5 (O’Connor, 72 minutes, 6), Prendergast 6, Snoddy 6, Doran 7, Stewart 7, Fitzpatrick 7, Bradley 6 (Baird, 72 minutes, 6). Unused subs:Kerr, Doyle, Garrett, Malone, Norton.
Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown) 7.