Fine win for Portstewart who knock fizz out of Coagh United

The visitors opened the scoring after just five minutes when Andy Kelso beat Joel Madison in the Portstewart goal.

This goal seemed to waken up the home side and it wasn’t long before the score was level, Nigel Turner was the man on target, he hit a fine strike past Hasson.

Jim Scott’s men played some good football, Aaron Campbell made a number of good runs forward, but it was the home side who found the net next. Johnny Stewart made it 2-1 on the half hour mark.Ryan Doherty should have increased the lead for the home side, only his effort found the woodwork.Lee Forgrave tested Hasson in the Coagh goal on a number of occasion but the half time score was 2-1 to the home side.

The second half was only restarted when Portstewart were awarded a penalty after Turner was upended in the box by Thornton. James Peden stepped up and hit home to increase the lead to 3-1 for Gary Taylor’s side. With 30 minutes remaining, Portstewart were reduced to ten men when McClements was red carded for a harsh tackle on a Coagh forward. Coagh took advantage of the extra man and battled hard to try and get into the tie. Substitute Robert Donnell should have made it 4-1 to Portstewart after some great play by Forgrave and Doherty, his effort went just wide. The visitors grabbed a consolation goal with two minutes remaining when substitute Lee Smyth hit home, leaving the final score 3-2.