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Portadown v Crusaders C.I.S. Quarter Final Tuesday 9th October 2007

A game where not a lot happened. Well for the first 7 minutes anyway. With the first serious attack of the game Portadown took the lead when McCutcheon beat Gregg Shannon with a good shot for the edge of the box. Crusaders nearly brought the scores level when Davy Rainey had a rasping shot tipped wide for a corner by Ports 'keeper Miskelly. It looked like the Portadown 'keeper had taken up where he left off when he produced a man of the match performance against the Crues at Seaview in the league recently. 2 Minutes later with Portadown's next attack McCann gave them a 2 goal advantage when he tucked a good shot low into the corner of the net. It was beginning to take on a nightmare look for the Crues who to their credit started to string a few passes together and come into the match. After 21 minutes Declan Caddell came to replace Aaron Montgomery and immediately made his presence felt with a couple of strong challenges. A ray of hope was handed to the shell-shocked in the 33rd Crues fans when Rainey whipped in an inch perfect cross from the right and was met by Caddell who rose higher than anyone to head powerfully into the top of the net leaving Miskelly no chance. Just when the Crues fans were settling down for a halftime cuppa and reflect that 1 down wasn't too bad Portadown broke down the left and a deep cross was met by an unattended McCutcheon at the back post to restore their 2 goal lead.

Half Time Portadown 3 - 1 Crusaders

The second half started with both teams shared possession without creating chances. Nothing was to prepare us for the 6 minutes of magic that was to come. 54th minute saw Rainey meet the ball near the edge of the box and direct and cracking shot high into the net to make it 3-2. 5 minutes later the comeback was complete when Rainey again got the ball in the box and this time knocked the ball past Miskelly's left post. Before the Crues fans had a chance to celebrate drawing level Steven Coulter made a good run and powered into the box and beat Miskelly on his right post. The fans were ecstatic and the choir at the back who had been singing "we're gonna win 4-3" were in danger of being right. There was a left off for Crusaders when a good cross was headed onto the Crues bar and cleared. Portadown piled on more and more pressure causing one committee member to remark it was like watching Davy Crockett's last days at the Alamo. with nine minutes to go Shannon made a good low save at his near post. The Crues manage to hang on for the last few minutes and a most incredible victory had been won. A well known Crues fans was heard to mention that he had forgotten to put on his lucky Latvian hat on until the second half so he apologises for giving the Crues fan a sweat.

Full Time Portadown 3 - 4 Crusaders

Team:

1-: Shannon, 2-: Montgomery (21 Caddell), 3-: Emerson, 4-: Morrow, 5-: Magowan, 6-: Smyth, 7-: R Tumelty (90 McAllister), 8-: Lockhart, 9-: Coulter, 10-: Rainey, 11-: McQuillan