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Linfield recorded yet another draw in the league as they were held by Portadown at a cold and wet Shamrock Park this afternoon.

Epitomised by Paul Finnegan who threw himself at everything at the back, Portadown will feel they merited a point for their workrate, defending and they were also a threat on the counter. Early in the match, Portadown almost caught Linfield on the counter when Lee Bonis broke down the left and it was a 2v1 in the Ports favour as he had strike partner Adam Salley in the middle, however his attempted pass across was well and crucially cut out by Linfield’s Matthew Clarke.

The first of many opportunities in a game which never looked like ending 0-0 came Portadown’s way on 14 minutes when the ball fell kindly in the area for Stephen Teggart but he was off balance and had to take the shot quickly which resulted in him firing wide.

Linfield threatened three minutes later when Niall Quinn – playing in central midfield – took up an opportunity to shoot from 25 yards with a sweet strike that he was unlucky to see flash just over the upright. Jordan Stewart was also unlucky midway through the first half as he met Kirk Millar’s near-post cross with a header which was well saved by Portadown’s South African goalkeeper, Jethren Barr.

Portadown threatened again later in the half with a close shave as Adam Salley got a near post header on an inswinging corner from Reece Jordan – a last minute inclusion in the Portadown starting eleven after Barney McKeown pulled out after the warm-up - and the striker Salley’s effort flashed just wide of the far post.

In a final chance of the first half Jordan Stewart’s pace took him beyond the Portadown defence but the goalkeeper was out quickly to narrow the angle and seemed to make a block in the process as Stewart’s shot under pressure struck the base of the post.

Half Time: Portadown 0 – 0 Linfield

The Blues went close within a minute into the second half when Kirk Millar whipped in a tantalising cross from the right and with Matt Green at full stretch the ball was crucially helped on by Paul Finnegan so that Green, and Manzinga behind him, didn’t have a tap in. From a corner afterwards Sam Roscoe got up well to meet Niall Quinn’s delivery but he headed wide from a good position. David Healy’s men were quick out the blocks in the second half and had a strong spell but couldn’t capitalise on it at the time.

Linfield will have been wondering how they hadn’t scored at least one as Jordan Stewart was unlucky again as he met Christy Manzinga’s pull-back from the left only to see his shot from 10 yards instinctively blocked off the line by defender Paul Finnegan.

Again the run of play on 70 minutes, Portadown striker was just inches away from getting his head onto a cross into the box by Oisin Smyth and had he done so it surely would have been a certain goal. Roles were reversed a short time later as Bonis found Conaty with a low cross and he’ll be disappointed that his shot was central from 10 yards and comfortable for Chris Johns.

Johns had to work harder for the next one as he beat away a low drive from 20 yards by Adam Salley.

Christy Manzinga had a golden opportunity to win it late on for Linfield as a deep corner was headed back by Billy Chadwick and headed on by Sam Roscoe to the near post and Manzinga couldn’t wrap his foot around it enough as he fired wide. Then there was a let-off for Ports ‘keeper Barr in added time as he spilled a cross before scrambling to gather at the second attempt.

Full Time: Portadown 0 – 0 Linfield

Match Images

1. David Healy : Frustrating result, frustrating performance