Portadown in stalemate

Portadown skipper Arkins hit a post in the first half

Portadown 0-0 FC Belshina Bodruisk

Portadown held Belarus side Belshina Bodruisk to a scoreless draw in the first leg of their Champions League tie at Shamrock Park on Wednesday evening.

Portadown proved to be worthy opponents against unknown opponents despite missing several regulars.

Veteran goalkeeper Mickey Keenan had an outstanding game while Dean Fitzgerald, just back from a broken leg, was in tremendous form.

Portadown gave as good as they got in the first period although Keenan had to be at his sharpest on a couple of occasions.

Scramble

Keenan, the oldest player to have played in the Champions League, was agile in the fourth minute in touching a shot from Dzianis Karolik for a corner.

Portadown midfielder Fitzgerald had a chance in the eighth minute but his shot strayed wide of the target.

Portadown should have gone ahead in the 15th minute when Richard Clarke and captain Vinny Arkins could not get on the end of a goalmouth scramble.

Clarke had another chance when he was put through by Gary Hamilton but saw his shot saved by Siarhei Sinitsyn.

Keenan belied his 46 years when he came out to block midfielder Ihar Trukhau after he was put through by Valery Strypeikis.

It was Arkins again who nearly broke the deadlock in the 34th minute.

Clarke had a lively first half for Portadown

He attempted an audacious overhead flick which hit the post and then Peter McCann just failed to touch in the rebound.

The visitors started off in a more lively fashion on the resumption, but striker Strypeikis missed a glorious opportunity by hitting the side-netting after being put clear.

Fitzgerald could have given victory to Portadown but his volley flew just wide of the upright with the goalkeeper beaten.

The biggest cheer of the night was for Keenan when he brought off a dramatic save from Edouard Boltrushevich in the 75th minute.

Bodruisk let fly with a thunderous, dipping free-kick but Keenan got both hands to the ball to tip it over the crossbar.

Portadown now travel to Belarus next week with a little bit more confidence for the second leg after a match they could so easily have won.

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Portadown: Keenan, McCann, O'Hara, Neil Ogden, Craig, Clarke, Fitzgerald, McAreavey, Neill, Gary Hamilton, Arkins.
Substitutes: Rea, Andrew Hamilton, Alderdice, Lindsam.

Belshina Bobruisk: Sinitsyn, Siadniou, Harbachov, Klimovich, Maliavko, Boltrushevich, Kukar, Harmash, Trukhov, Strypeikis, Karolik.
Substitutes: Pohe, Eduard Gradoboev, Khrypach, Shahoika.

Referee: Drazenko Kobacic (Croatia)