Bet McLean Cup
Portadown 0
Cliftonville 2
At Shamrock Park

CLIFTONVILLE advanced to the third round of the Bet McLean Cup after goals in each half from Alex Bannon and Joe Sheridan saw them extract revenge on Portadown with a 2-0 win at Shamrock Park on Tuesday evening.

Three days after their injury time defeat at Solitude in the league, Jim Magilton’s men learnt their lessons from their sixth league defeat on the bounce and converted through Bannon before the break, with Sheridan sealing progression before the hour mark in Mid-Ulster.

Reds boss Jim Magilton was delighted with his side's character after their crushing defeat at the weekend and happy with the overall performance.

“We had to come here and again show great character, which we did,” Magilton reflected.

“I thought it was a really, really good performance and outstanding in terms of the resilience you have to show.

“It was such a devastating end to the game for us, we’d have been disappointed to draw the game but it was absolute desolation in terms of the effort we put in, to come away with nothing.

“Tonight was a really, really good performance. We could have scored more goals, but just overall, really pleased for the players”.

Magilton made one enforced change from the weekend's last gasp defeat to their opponents as Joel Thompson came in to replace the injured Rory Hale in the centre of midfield.

The Ports were first to threaten when Michael Hewitt’s shot was clawed behind for a corner by PJ Morrison, Cliftonville struggled to adequately deal with the resulting set-piece and next attack that followed before Benjamin Wells blasted over from the edge of the box.

At the other end a Ben Quinn cross was partially cleared and Liam McStravick’s hit from the edge of the box bobbled and despite appeals it had hit a hand, referee Ben McMaster was unmoved.

On the quarter hour mark Joe Sheridan slipped a pass to McStravick and his shot was deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing.

Saturday evenings match winner Jack Scott should have broken the deadlock when Alex Bannon miscontrolled and Scott drove forward with the loose ball towards goal, though PJ Morrison stood tall and parried his shot.

Harry Wilson was chopped down on the edge of the area and it presented Brian Healy with an attempt that clipped the wall on its way behind for a corner.

The resulting delivery from Ollie Samuels was met by Bannon and his goalbound header was pushed away by Aaron McCarey and eventually scrambled to safety.

The deadlock was broken in the 42nd minute and fell to the visitors. Harry Wilson’s corner from the right was pinpoint and Alex Bannon freed himself in the area and met it acrobatically, finishing past McCarey into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 at the break.

Portadown upped the ante at the start of the second half, Matthew Carson dropped in a free kick that was headed on by Michael Hewitt and PJ Morrison was forced to touch the dipping attempt behind for a corner. Benjamin Wells then clipped in a dangerous ball that Hewitt glanced behind.

However, it was Cliftonville who would double their advantage before the hour mark. In the 57th minute Brian Healy played a low cross into the box and Joe Sheridan swept a shot beneath McCarey.

Ports manager David Jeffrey turned to summer signing Ben Kennedy for inspiration from the bench and he saw a shot deflected behind for a corner, with James Teelan rattling the bar with an attempt midway through the half.

Cliftonville had their own chances to extend their lead, Sheridan drifted inside and shot at McCarey, whilst Lee Chapman made a superb diving block to prevent Sheridan from finishing a fine McStravick pass.

Brian Healy shot into the side netting from Aaron Wightman’s through ball, and at the other end Ben Kennedy drove towards goal but his shot was straight at PJ Morrison. In the end Cliftonville saw the game out to progress to the last 16-draw.

PORTADOWN: McCarey, Isamala, Carson, Altintop, Chapman, Towe (Jessop 73’), Falls (Kennedy 61’), Wells (Obhakhan 61’), Teelan, Scott, Hewitt.

CLIFTONVILLE: Morrison, Samuels, Leppard, Bannon, Wightman, Wilson, Thompson (Stanfield 87’), Sheridan, Quinn (Hawthorne 73’), Healy (Murray 87’), McStravick (Campbell 73’).

REFEREE: Ben McMaster