Shock defeat for Firsts at home to Parkview

TABLE-TOPPERS Portrush Firsts suffered a shock defeat at home on Saturday when they went down by a single goal to Parkview who lie several places below them in the league table.

Portrush will rue a number of missed chances but, in truth, most of the players had an off day and while the approach work was good, the finishing was well below the standard the players have set in previous games.

Parkview were without a number of first team regulars, but the replacements showed a steely determination and frustrated the home side with dogged defending and a never-say-die spirit.

They had to defend for most of the game but Portrush showed vulnerability at the back on occasions and were fortunate not to concede further goals.

Indeed, but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Gordon McAllister and the defensive skills of David Price Portrush could well have conceded further goals.

Neil McMaster and John Dillon were other players who emerged with credit but while the remainder of the team tried hard, it simply didn’t happen on the day and the longer the game went on the more it appeared that Portrush were doomed to defeat.

Parkview officials sensed they were about to cause an upset.

One commented: “This team is racking up six or seven goals a game and our performance today was excellent. We certainly didn’t think we were going to get this result.”

The win is a dent to the promotion hopes of Portrush and they will have to find better form if they want to step up to a higher standard next season.

PORTRUSH: G. McAllister, R. Smyth, N. McMaster, G. Kerr, A. McConaghie, A. Christie, A. Kerr (capt), D. Price, C. McKeeman, J. McCook, J. Dillon. Subs – C. Henry, G. Christie.