Deserved win for Ports

Portstewart’s Hugh McAllister was the busier of the two keepers in the first half, as Gary Taylor’s side found it difficult to get to grips with a youthful Chimney Corner outfit.

Brian Tosh had Portstewart’s only effort in the first half, while at the other end Anderson could easily have had two goals, as he rounded McAllister twice, only for his efforts to go wide.

The second half was a different affair, with Portstewart looking like a different side.

Their hard work paid off after 56 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty, up stepped Mervyn Nicholl who made no mistake from the spot.

Brian Tosh should have made it 2-0 soon after, he beat three players only for his effort to go wide.

On 76 minutes, Portstewart finally got their all important second goal.

Tosh was again the playmaker as he set up Cahir Friel, who netted his first for the club. Substitute Chris Donnell made his mark, scoring Portstewart’s third, seven minutes from time.

Portstewart boss Gary Taylor described his side’s second half display as ‘excellent’.

“We had a very poor first half. But, we’ve been like that this season, we never play two halves the same. We made a few changes at half time, and things turned around for us.

“Young Cahir Friel got his first goal, and it was well deserved, he’s been playing really well for us over the past few weeks.

“He’s still only 16 and to be honest in the first half, he was the only thing we had going for us.

“I was delighted to see him getting his name on the scoresheet,” admitted Taylor.

Portstewart face a tough test against Dergview this Saturday.

In the last meeting the Strabane based club won 5-0, and Taylor is hoping for revenge this week: “We had a makeshift team the last time we met Dergview, we owe them one, but it’ll not be easy.

“They are a very physical team, who have a long of speed up front, they are probably the best team in our league, so it’ll test us to see how far we’ve come,” told Taylor.

PORTSTEWART: McAllister, Todd, E Nicholl, White, Gaston, M Nicholl, Ramsey, Friel, Neill, Vauls, Tosh. Subs: Smith, Donnell, McFadden, McGarvey.

Dergview are the visitors to Portstewart this Saturday, the game has a 3pm kick off.

* A table quiz will be held in the Portstewart Clubhouse on Friday, February 12, from 8pm.

The club will be holding a Night at the Races followed by karaoke on Friday, February 27. Anyone interested in sponsoring a race, should contact Laurence on match day.