Nine goal thriller as Ports beat Queen’s

There were nine goals in the tie, and it was Gary Taylor’s men who walked away with the points, after a very tight 5-4 victory.

Ryan Doherty and Johnny Stewart both grabbed a brace, whilst the other name on the score sheet belonged to Macosquin man Craig Moore.

From the kick off it was clear that this was going to be a tight affair.

Both sides had chances, but neither broke the deadlock.

Queen’s opened the scoring after twenty minutes, when Patrick Stuart his home with a left foot drive.

Johnny Stewart made it 1-1 fifteen minutes later when he hit home from close range.

It was end to end football, and within a minute, Queen’s were in front again.

A corner the ball fell at the feet of Matt McManus who scored from a narrow angle. Not to be outdone, Ryan Doherty levelled the scores for a second time, when he dived bravely to head the ball past Brown to leave it 2-2 at the break.

Craig Moore put the Ports ahead for the first time in the tie when he fired home early in the second half.

Stewart then grabbed his second of the tie and Portstewart’s fourth when he found the net.

Portstewart’s fifth goal game via Ryan Doherty when he made it 5-2.

Queen’s were determined to fight their way back in to the tie. And two quick goals from Patrick Stuart and Connor Mulholland gave them some hope. As Queen’s pressed forward, the Portstewart boys held firm to take the points in a thrilling 5-4 win.

Assistant Manger Aaron Forgrave told Times Sport: “To be honest it was a fairly even tie.

“Queen’s had a few clear cut chances to take the lead early on, and if they had taken these it might have been a different game.”

Portstewart had three players taken off through injury - Lee Forgrave, Ryan Doherty and Mark Mearns.

“It’ll be a wait and see with the three boys.

“We are also without Luke Bradley who is suspended for Saturday’s Irish Cup tie with Moyola.

“Luke will be a huge loss for us. John Neill and Luke Bradley made some good blocks for in the dying minutes of the game. They put their bodies on the line, and we can’t ask for much more than that.”

Portstewart are in Cup action for the next two weeks, they meet Moyola this Saturday in the Irish Cup and Donegal Celtic the week after in the Intermediate Cup.