Portadown boss left baffled by ‘pin in the balloon moment’ in defeat to Linfield

Portadown lost 3-0 to Linfield at Windsor Park on Saturday with all the talk afterwards about the champions second goal

Portadown boss Niall Currie was left “baffled” by the decision from the match officials to award Linfield’s second goal on Saturday.

The game was tensely poised just past the hour mark at Windsor Park as the Ports pressed for an equaliser following Sam Taylor’s opener for the hosts.

A swift break for the Blues carved out an opportunity for Matthew Fitzpatrick but Aaron McCarey looked to have denied the Linfield frontman with a great save on the line.

Much to his disbelief however referee Declan Hassan awarded a goal after consulting with his assistant.

The Portadown players and staff were incredulous at the decision and their mood wasn’t helped as Fitzpatrick added a third before the end, but after the game Currie’s thoughts were on the decision which he felt turned the game.

“”I think it’ll be on social media now and all the highlights will be out and everybody can make their own opinion of it,” said the Ports boss on BBC Sportsound.

“I’ve seen a striker not celebrating a goal for a start and I’ve seen my goalkeeper being absolutely irate.

“I spoke to a couple of the Linfield players who shook their heads and said it wasn’t even close.

“We’ve all seen it now and I think the biggest question is, it’s a huge moment in the game.

“We were in the game, we’re disappointed that we conceded a goal at the start the second half, but then we have a wee game of basketball with two very good chances, James Teelan was clean through and Eamon Fyfe has one from six yards out.

“Then it goes to the other end. and as I say, the small moments matter. How the lines man has seen what he’s seen is beyond me. I’m still baffled about it.

“But I’m very, very proud of the players today, they were magnificent. We felt we were really, really still in the game, but that moment was the pin in the balloon moment.”