BetMcLean Cup final: Linfield beat Portadown 3-1 - as it happened

Summary

Linfield 3-1 Portadown (Result)

Live Reporting

Stephen Alexander

'Linfield toying with Portadown'published at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser
Quote Message
Without wanting to sound condescending, Linfield are just toying with Portadown with the way they are stroking the ball around the park.
Postpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
They try their best but referee Tony Clarke spots an infringement at the corner and awards Linfield a free kick to relieve the pressure.
Postpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
Kenny Kane's cross is headed behind by Josh Archer for a corner.
Can Portadown find a way back into this game?
Postpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
Portadown's supporters continue to sing loudly despite the predicament their team finds itself in.
However, barring something absolutely extraordinary, it's unlikely they will be savouring trophy celebrations this afternoon.
Blues in controlpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
Image source, PACEMAKER
Image caption,
Ben Hall celebrates scoring Linfield's opener against Portadown
SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 3-0 Portadown
Portadown make a double change to freshen up their attack as Paul McElroy and Kenny Kane come on for Mark Russell and Zach Barr.
GOAL - Linfield 3-0 Portadownpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Rhys Annett (56 mins)
And there is that third goal!
Linfield break forward incisively with Kyle McClean marauding into the left hand side of the penalty area before cutting the ball back across the face of goal where Rhys Annett can't miss.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Linfield goal
Postpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 2-0 Portadown
Kyle Millar's clever pass releases Kyle McClean inside the Portadown penalty area but the midfielder shoots rather wastefully into the side netting.
Shortly afterwards, Rhys Annett fires a shot straight at Ports keeper Aaron Hogg.
Linfield are chasing a third goal which would almost certainly kill this final off as a contest.
Postpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 2-0 Portadown
Kirk Millar starts a Linfield counter-attack from deep in his own half.
He exchanges passes with Matthew Fitzpatrick and scampers down the right flank but his inviting low cross finds no takers in the centre.
KICK-OFFpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 2-0 Portadown
Off we go again at Windsor Park?
Can Portadown summon up the energy to get back into this tie once again?
'That's what Linfield do'published at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 2-0 Portadown
Lee Doherty
Radio Ulster pundit
Quote Message
Portadown created nearly all the chances in the first 39-and-a-half minutes but that's what Linfield do. They know how to win games.
HALF-TIMEpublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 2-0 Portadown
Portadown's superb opening 40 minutes has been undone by those two goals in a five minute spell at the end of the half.
It's a long way back now for Niall Currie's side.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Half-time score: Linfield v Portadown
GOAL - Linfield 2-0 Portadownpublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Luke Wilson (own goal, 45 mins)
It's two goals in a five-minute spell for Linfield as Joel Cooper's corner is met with a header by unfortunate defender Luke Wilson, who diverts it past his own goalkeeper.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Linfield goal
'A terrible goal for Portadown to concede'published at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 1-0 Portadown
Darren Murphy
Sportsound summariser
Quote Message
It's a terrible goal for Portadown to concede after defending so well for 39 minutes. Ben Hall doesn't have to jump over anybody or push past anybody. He was completely unmarked. Niall Currie is furious with that.
Postpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 1-0 Portadown
Almost a second for Linfield as Kyle McClean's cut-back from the left is met first time by Matthew Fitzpatrick, with the striker's effort flashing just wide.
GOAL - Linfield 1-0 Portadownpublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Ben Hall (40 mins)
The home side are in front five minutes before the interval!
Kirk Millar's corner kick takes a deflection off Portadown's Zach Barr and takes the pace off the ball for Ben Hall to nod home from close range.
Portadown will feel extremely hard done by after their efforts to date.
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Linfield goal
Postpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 0-0 Portadown
Mark Russell, on the left flank for Portadown, does extremely well to dig out a cross which Linfield keeper Chris Johns, under pressure from Eamon Fyfe, can't get to but the Blues scramble the ball clear.
Portadown are continuing to ask plenty of questions of their Premiership opponents.
Postpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 0-0 Portadown
Linfield defender Daniel Finlayson starts a move forward and exchanges passes with Joel Cooper before rattling a shot high and wide of the target from well outside the penalty area.
Portadown will be quite happy to keep Linfield at that sort of range.
HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 0-0 Portadown
Kirk Millar's inswinging free kick for Linfield is only half-cleared as far as Matthew Fitzpatrick.
The striker, with his back to goal, perfects an acrobatic overhead kick with the ball shuddering off Aaron Hogg's crossbar.
That was mighty close to the opening goal for Linfield.
Kirk in control!published at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 10 March
Linfield 0-0 Portadown
Image source, PACEMAKER
Image caption,
Linfield's Kirk Millar in possession against Portadown in this afternoon's final