FOOTBALL: MAC ATTACK IS SO COSTLY

COLERAINE boss Marty Quinn was big enough to admit that sheer ill discipline sunk his side in this bruising battle.

Firstly, Pat McAllister was ordered off on 61 minutes for slapping an opponent and six minutes later Quinn himself was sent packing after arguing with a linesman.

"It shouldn't have happened," Quinn admitted.

"Pat shouldn't have lifted his hand and certainly I shouldn't have become involved.

"Its difficult to keep your cool when these things happen. I thought Pat's sending-off was rather harsh."

All three Portadown goals came after the sending off. Ports boss Ronnie McFaul said: "We kept our shape and our discipline throughout the match and deserved this vital win. I can't praise our players enough."

Up until the sending-off Portadown dominated the match but just couldn't find that final pass to prise open the well-drilled Coleraine defence, in which Paul Gaston and John Devine were superb.

The match hinged on that 61st-minute sending-off and Portadown took full advantage of the gaps in midfield.

They went ahead on 67 minutes when man-of-the-match Gary Hamilton smashed the ball home from 12 yards after Vinny Arkins headed it brilliantly into his path.

This was when Quinn became involved with the linesman and left referee Peter Weatherall no option but to send him off.

It was 2-0 on 80 minutes when Peter McCann raced up the right and chipped the ball perfectly for Arkins to head home.

McCann was again the provider and Arkins the scorer from all of two yards with the goal he just couldn't have missed.

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