Portadown pounce early to end Bohemians' reign

Portadown 2 Bohemians 0/Portadown win 4-1 on aggregate: PORTADOWN SET up a quarter-final meeting with Sligo Rovers after ending…

Portadown 2 Bohemians 0/Portadown win 4-1 on aggregate:PORTADOWN SET up a quarter-final meeting with Sligo Rovers after ending Bohemians' reign as Setanta Sports Cup holders last night. Goals from Jordan Baker and Tim Mouncey sent the 2010 winners crashing out 4-1 at Shamrock Park.

After losing last week’s first leg, Bohemians needed to win, but they were second best for large parts of the game and rarely looked like scoring the goals they needed to stay in the competition.

Bohemians’ hopes of turning around the tie had been dealt a huge blow with the absence of Killian Brennan, who was suspended following his dismissal in last week’s first leg. And their grip on the trophy was loosened a bit more when Portadown scored after 10 minutes.

The ball was played out to Mouncey, the home side’s main attacking weapon, and his cross from the right was turned home by Baker. And the same two almost combined to double Portadown’s lead soon afterwards. Mouncey drilled the ball across the box but Baker put it over the crossbar.

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Bohemians began to come into the game towards the end of the half. Christopher Forrester’s low effort was easy for goalkeeper David Miskelly, while a dipping effort from Robert Bayly narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Pat Fenlon attempted to inject some life into his side by bringing on Anto Flood and Christopher Fagan at the start of the second half. But a second Portadown goal three minutes after the restart wrecked his plans.

Ross Redman released Richard Lecky down the left flank and he pulled the ball back to Mouncey, who rifled home a fine 20-yard strike.

PORTADOWN: Miskelly, Redman, O’Hara, Breen (Ramsey 73 mins), Braniff (Haire 69 mins), Mouncey (Mackle 78 mins), Baker, Cawley, McCabe, Lecky, Gartland. Subs not used: Armstrong, Teggart, Clarke, Tipton.

BOHEMIANS: Sexton, Price, Joyce, Rossitor (Heary 73 mins), Feely, Bayly, Burke, Buckley, Ladola (Flood 46 mins), Forrester (Fagan 46 mins), Lopez. Subs not used: Dixon, McEvoy, Somers, Murphy.

Referee: Brian Turkington (Belfast).