RAPHOE FOUGHT back from two goals down as Simon Goudie and Vincent Devenney goals in the final four minutes earned a draw at Portadown.
Portadown 2 Raphoe 2
Raphoe travelled to Edenvilla Park on Saturday without several key players.
Ian McGonigle and Ben Wallace both picked up injuries during last week’s game against Civil Service, Alexander Tinney and Luke Witherow were out through illness and Matthew Lecky has been out long term with a shoulder injury.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams looking to stamp their authority from the start but neither team could cut out any clear cut chances in the opening exchanges.
The pace of the game slowed slightly after 10 minutes and the first real chance fell to Raphoe – William Kilpatrick picked up the ball in midfield and slid a pass through the Portadown defence for Alan Lyttle to run onto but with only the keeper to beat he scuffed his shot from the top of the circle and ball was easily cleared.
From Raphoe’s first short corner Simon Goudie had a drag flick well saved by Portadown goalkeeper Jamie Knipe.
Portadown also had chances to score and from a short corner Alan Meehan was alert to clear the ball off his own line to safety.
Portadown started to up the ante for a period and won another couple of short corners but again these were well defended and game remained scoreless.
In the final minute of the half Raphoe had a glorious chance to break the deadlock – George Patterson raced down the right past a couple of Portadown defenders but instead of squaring the ball to better placed team mates he took on the shot from a tight angle that was easily saved. The half ended 0 – 0.
The start of the second half saw Portadown pour forward looking for the opening goal but again Raphoe’s defence stood firm with Simon Goudie, William Wauchope, Alan Meehan and Paul Stewart stopping everything that was threw at them.
Portadown were now well on top and they nearly took the lead from a short corner effort that cannoned off the post and was swept clear by Keith Meehan.
Portadown eventually found the breakthrough when Steven Johnston was left unmarked in the circle and turned and fired past Johnny Rankin in Raphoe’s goal.
With the home side now in the ascendancy they nearly doubled their lead from another short corner but this time the crossbar came to Raphoe’s rescue.
Raphoe’s luck couldn’t hold much longer and Neil Gilmour doubled Portadown’s lead with a neat reverse stick shot into the bottom right hand corner.
With only 4 minutes left on the clock Raphoe gave themselves a lifeline when Simon Goudie fired home from the top of the circle from a short corner to half the deficit.
Less than a minute later it was honours even – Alan Lyttle worked hard to get the ball back from Portadown’s right back and when he crossed the ball Vincent Devenney was on hand to score through a crowded area with a reverse stick shot.
A shell shocked Portadown tried to get back into the game and force a winner but time ran out the game ended 2 – 2.
Next week Raphoe are away from home again when they travel to Comber to play North Down with a 2.30pm push back.
This match is followed by a midweek game at home to Mossley on Tuesday 23rd.
Raphoe: Johnny Rankin, Simon Goudie, William Wauchope, Alan Meehan, Paul Stewart, William Kilpatrick, Kit Regan, Keith Meehan, Vincent Devenney, George Patterson, Alan Lyttle, Stephen Cleverley.
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