CHAMPIONSHIP TWO: Portstewart unlucky not to take something in tie with Dundela

It was a game of end to end football, with both sides having good chances on goal in the opening stages of the tie. Despite their efforts, it was the home side who walked away with three points.

Portstewart entertain Wakehurst this Saturday and seasiders boss Gary Taylor is hoping to get back to winning ways: "We were unlucky not to take something from Saturday's game with Dundela.

"We had a very good second half and did enough to win it. We play Wakehurst this week, and I am hoping we can get back to winning ways. In the last two weeks we've played two of the league's strongest teams - Dergview and Dundela, and we've held our own, so we have to take the positives from that."

Brian Tosh opened the scoring in the 24th minute for the visitors. He beat the offside trap to fire home.

Not to be outdone, the home side piled on the pressure, and they levelled the match goal ten minutes later.

Portstewart had a good chance to go in front again before the break, but Brian Tosh's header skimmed past the post.

The second half proved to be eventful for Taylor's side.

The Ports had a goal ruled offside, and disaster struck when the home side took the lead on 58 minutes with a well worked goal.

Portstewart continued to battle, and their persistance almost paid off on 68 minutes when a bad back pass from the home defence was intercepted by Tosh, but his effort went just wide.

In the final minutes of the game, Marty Smith was taken off with an ankle injury and Cathir Friel was shown a red card for an off the ball incident.

PORTSTEWART: McAllister, White, Smith, Gaston, McFadden, Ramsey, Tosh, Vauls, Friel, Neill, Fisher. Subs: Donnell, Moffett, McGarvey, Taylor.

The Portstewart boss went on: "Mervyn (Nicholl] will be back again this week, but we're still waiting on Owen Peden to get back to full fitness, he broke his collar bone and has been training to rebuild the muscle again.

"Marty Smith also picked up a bad knock on Saturday.

"He will be going for a scan later this week, so we won't know anything until the weekend," said Gary.

*Portstewart FC will be holding a Night at the Races this Saturday. The fundraiser kicks off at 8pm in the Clubhouse.