Emma at the double as Lurgan bounce back

Despite a keenly contested opening period Lurgan still managed to win three penalty corners in the first twelve minutes of the match but true to form this season they failed to register from any of them.

Portadown were not nearly as wasteful with their only award of the match two minutes later. After a retake award for an infringement at the first attempt they duly found the net with their next try all be it from a bizarre manner.

The first strike on target was a complete mishit but to the amazement of Lurgan players it bounced and bobbled over their defenders stick and pads as it meandered happily into the net.

Having gone in front Portadown were happy to get behind the ball and scrap and spoil to hold on to their lead.

Lurgan piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser and in the 24th minute their penalty corner return took a huge leap as Emma Quinn finished of a switch move at the near post to bring the sides level.

The end of the half saw Lurgan continue to pile on the pressure but were unable to break through a stubborn Portadown defence.

The second half was almost complete one way traffic as Lurgan were camped almost entirely in the Portadown half. Six penalty corners in the first 25 minutes of the second half for Lurgan failed to disturb the scoreboard.

Even the resourceful Zoe Hawthorne playing her first match back after maternity break, couldn’t add to the score as she flashed a reverse stick shot wide of the post in the 55th minute.

It looked like it was going to be one of those nights but Lurgan deservedly went in front from their eighth penalty corner of the second half. Emma Quinn was again the hero as she scored from a carbon copy move of her first goal with the near post switch move again paying dividends.

Lurgan still managed another couple of penalty corners in the final five minutes as they tried to increase their advantage but their opponents held out without conceding any further goals.

Lurgan’s up and down season continued on Saturday with a disappointing performance and result as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Queens at the Dub.

Lurgan’s habit of conceding soft goals at one end and failing to take their chances at the other has plagued them for most of this season and been a contributory factor in a lot of their defeats.