GLENTORAN goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai admitted that his equaliser in the 2-1 Sports Direct Premiership win against Cliftonville at Solitude was a “freak”.
The Hungarian found the net right on half-time with a free-kick from inside his box which bounced over Reds counterpart David Odumosu.
“It was a freak goal and that is the first time I have scored in my career so it will be a memorable one and it was really important,” he said.
Joe Gormley had given the Reds the lead with Gyollai levelling and Danny Amos grabbing the winner 12 minutes from time. The home side lost Odhran Casey to a red card.
Glens boss Declan Devine, whose side are up to third place, said: “It was a scrapy and ugly game, I was really disappointed at half-time with the goal we gave away and we didn’t play anywhere near our levels.
“Our goalkeeper gets us out of jail and brings us level, but second half we were more competitive and more aggressive and credit to the players, to come from a goal behind shows the team spirit in the group,” added the Derry man.
Portadown boss Niall Currie admitted he finds it “exciting and strange” that his side are up to second spot in the table.
The Ports, in their first season back in the top tier, have surpassed all expectations – particularly those of Currie.
Steven McCullough’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Crusaders at Shamrock Park.
Currie said: “We are all surprised the situation we are in at the minute. We’ve played everybody and given everybody a right good go. It’s a strange situation but we are very excited to be in that situation and we are over the moon about it.
“We just tell the players to go out and win individual games. The match wasn’t one for the purist, it was a really blustery day. It was hard to get the ball down.
“The Crues were probably a bit hard done by not to get something from the game – they hit the bar and the post.”
Looking ahead to the big St Stephen’s Day clash with Paddy McLaughlin’s Glenavon at Mourneview Park, Currie said: “Hopefully we’ll have Shay McCartan back but we lose Baris Altintop.”
In an unusual twist, the referee appeared to ask for two of the ball boys to be removed at half-time, the official seemingly unhappy with where the ball was being taken to for some of Crusaders' throw-ins.
Currie said: “That was a first for me. They were setting the ball down where it actually went out so it was quite ironic.”
Linfield’s march to a first title in three years continued with a 1-0 win over Glenavon at Windsor Park, Chris McKee bagging the winner in the 11th minute.
The Blues are 13 points clear of the second-placed Ports having played a game more but Linfield manager David Healy was quick to play down title talk.
“The lead is of no great significance. We are barely over the half way stage in the league. Other teams have opportunities to hit form,” he said.
Reflecting on another three points safely tucked away, he added: “It was a tough game and we are pleased with the outcome. But we are nowhere near the level we need to be at. The quality was lacking.”
Next up is the huge St Stephen’s Day showdown with Glentoran at the Oval, the east Belfast men having proved a thorn in Linfield’s side this season.
Healy said: “We look forward to the Glentoran game, it will be a special occasion. We owe it to ourselves to produce a good performance.”
Linfield’s a star performer Joel Cooper returns from suspension for the derby, after agreeing a move to Coleraine at the end of the season.
Healy claims Cooper’s decision has not been a distraction.
“It seems more disruptive for the people outside Linfield. Joel will be ready to go on Boxing Day,” he added.
Nine-man Ballymena United won 3-2 win at basement side Loughgall, Ben Kennedy and Josh Carson seeing red.
Champions Larne – a whopping 25 points off the pace but with seven games in hand on Linfield due to European commitments – go to high-flying Dungannon Swifts on Monday night.