The PSNI entertained Portrush at Newforge on Saturday afternoon in a top of the table clash in the Men’s Intermediate League.

Report and images by Cyril Boyd Photography

On a murky, grey day the home team opened up brightly with a number of early attacks which Portrush fended off well, their goalkeeper especially in fine form.

It was however, a mistake by the keeper, who cleared an attack whilst outside his circle, which lead to a penalty stroke for the home team. Unfortunately, for PSNI, it was a tame effort which was easily saved by the goal minder.

In the second period, PSNI had the ball in the net but the umpire spotted an infraction and immediately disallowed it. It was in this period that the visitors started to put in their own attacks with the home ‘keeper foiling them on at least two occasions.

After the midpoint, things began to get a bit feisty with a number of green and yellow cards shown, as befits a top of the table clash!

The home team were winning a number of penalty corners but their inability to convert would make them pay dearly in the end.

At the other end of the pitch, with the ball bouncing around the PSNI circle, it was Portrush’s No 31, Craig Cunningham who calmly placed the ball past the goalkeeper to open the scoring.

Despite an onslaught of penalty corners, none of which were successful, resolute defending and fine form by the Port’s keeper saw the visitors take a hard won victory.

An end-to-end match with many chances but just the one goal to settle it!

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