Hat-trick hero Healy shines in Seconds victory

Young striker David Healy stole the limelight with a fine hat-trick but this was a very impressive team performance.

Portadown had taken a 16th minute lead when their striker curled an effort into the top corner beyond the reach of debutant keeper Gareth Muldoon.

The young stopper had earlier pulled off a fine save to prevent the same player breaking the deadlock.

Jude Ballard’s long range effort which drifted just wide seemed to spark the visitors into life and on 24 minutes they drew level from the penalty spot through Gary Henderson.

Two minutes later they took the lead following a flowing move which began at right back with Ryan Varma linking with Paul McVeigh and Ronan Doherty before the latter played in Healy who calmly slotted home from 10 yards.

On 35 minutes McVeigh released Healy who burst clear of the Portadown defence before coolly lifting the ball over the advancing keeper to give Stute a deserved 3-1 lead at the break.

The Drumahoe side completely dominated the second period and on 57 minutes Stute moved further ahead when Healy set up Doherty for a simple tap-in from six yards.

McVeigh glanced a header wide of the target and Healy blazed another shot over the bar before the Healy/Doherty combination once again carved the Portadown defence apart and Doherty’s clever chip into the box gave the big striker the simplest of tasks to complete his hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining. In the closing stages McVeigh finally got the goal he desperately craved when he fired home from the spot after Jack Higgins had been upended inside the box.

The Seconds entertain Linfield Swifts at the Riverside Stadium, this Saturday (KO 2pm).