SPOT OF BOTHER

CUP favourites Portadown scrambled through on the back of a controversial penalty.

Referee Alan Snoddy gave the 50th minute spot-kick against veteran Larne defender John McKinstry who protested that striker Vinny Arkins was backing into him.

In fact, McKinstry protested so loudly that referee Snoddy sent him packing - and then Arkins crashed the ball home from the spot.

Larne started brightly and deserved their 11th minute lead when Mark Loney and Shane McQuillan combined to set it up for Laurie McMahon to tap over the line.

But it was just a moment of glory.

Sixty seconds later Portadown forced a free kick on the left and Billy Woods floated the ball across perfectly for captain Brian Strain to head home.

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