FOOTBALL: Coleraine share the spoils with Portadown

Matthew Tipton headed the Ports in front on 25 minutes. But Coleraine responded in some style just eight minutes later thanks to a moment of magic from Stephen Carson.

The Bannsiders ended the game with 10 men following Gareth Tommons dismissal for dissent with 17 minutes to go.

Oran Kearney’s side also lost three of the back four that started to injury, with both Aaron Canning and Kyle McVey limping out of the action in the first half.

Coleraine spurned a great opportunity with two minutes on the clock as Carson picked out Mukendi from a free kick. But the makeshift striker headed over from six yards.

David Scullion was next to threaten but his shot was deflected over the bar by Brian Gartland.

The visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the game. However, they almost found a way through the Coleraine rearguard on 20 minutes as Braniff exchanged passes with Tipton.

But Johnny Watt slid in superbly to nick the ball off the Portadownn captain’s toe as he bore down on goal.

roke the deadlock a minute later as an unmarked Matthew Tipton stole in to head home Cawley’s cross. It was the former Dundalk man’s sixth goal in 10 starts since joining in January.

He nearly made it 2-0 just 60 seconds later as he latched on to a long ball, but his shot across goal fizzed past the post.

The Bannsiders levelled things up on 33 minutes and what a goal it was.

Stand-in skipper Carson picked the ball up on the halfway line and beat two men before exchanging passes with Knight. He held off Ramsey before curling a sublime shot past Miskelly from the edge of the box.

Coleraine had a let off six minutes before the break as Mackle dispossessed sub Daibhibd McIvor.

The midfielder surged forward before picking out Tipton with a great cross, his first time effort though crashed off the bar.

In to the second half and the hosts had Marc Mukendi to thank as he made a great tackle to deny Tipton after Boyle had sent him through on goal.

At the other end Boyce had Miskelly full stretch following a great pass from Lowry. And from the resulting corner Coleraine had a penalty claim waved away by ref Arnold Hunter.

Tipton was causing the makeshift Coleraine defence problems and he almost put his side back in front on 71 minutes as he stole in to the box. O’Hare though was out smartly to parry his effort.

The Bannsiders were reduced to 10 men two minutes later as Gareth Tommons picked up his second yellow card for dissent.

Coleraine: O’Hare, Canning (McIvor 28), Watt (Doherty 65), McVey (Boyce 41), Beverland, Scullion, Tommons, Lowry, Carson, Mukendi, Knight.

Subs not used: Quinn, Cullen.

Portadown: Miskelly, Mackle, Redman, Ramsey, Boyle (Leckey 76), Tipton (Haire 85), Braniff, Breen, McCabe, Gartland, Cawley (Clarke 67).

Subs not used: Hogg, Teggart.

Referee: A Hunter (Maguiresbridge).