Disappointment for South Antrim in Kirk Cup match

Last weekend saw Lisburn side South Antrim travel to Edenvilla to take on Portadown in the group stages of the Kirk Cup.

Things couldn’t have started worse for South, as the guys were 2-0 down after a nightmare opening six minutes.

The first goal came after a missed tackle led to a Portadown forward run in through on goal and passing to a waiting player to tap in at the back post.

Shortly after, a half blocked cross landed nicely for a Portadown player, whose shot in turn was deflected and looped sickeningly over a wrong footed South keeper.

South Antrim eventually picked themselves up and got back into it after a rocky ten minutes of sustained pressure.

Ward Phillips went on a mazy run into the opposition circle and his resulting shot was deflected just over the bar.

Minutes later, an Adam Glass drag flick was taken off the line superbly by a Portadown defender, and the feat was repeated when another South shot, this time by Jack Redpath, was taken off the line by a defender.

The remainder of the first half was end to end and both teams could have scored more had it not been for a combination of great saves and wayward shooting.

Early in the second half South got on the score sheet to make it 2-1 after a routine short corner lead to Chris Henry deflecting home.

Unfortunately, all South’s hard work came undone as when pushing for an equaliser, a Portadown break away lead to a forward getting on the end of a reverse stick cross to tap into the net.

South didn’t give up and another strong period of play lead to six short corners in close succession, which, criminally, they failed to put away.

They were again undone on the break late on, when a long pass reached an unmarked forward in the circle, whose initial shot was saved but was on hand to put in the rebound.

The game fizzled out and ended 4-1 to the hosts.

South Antrim know they’ll have to learn from the game an play much better if they are to get the points from this weekend’s game at home to Newry.