Portadown manager Niall Currie blasted “a ridiculous decision” which he felt cost his side an opportunity to salvage a point against Cliftonville – describing the call to award Rory Hale’s late goal as “a pin in the balloon moment”.

The Ports fell behind early on at Shamrock Park through Joe Sheridan’s strike before Reds captain Hale secured maximum points with five minutes left to play.

In a controversial finish, Hale’s free-kick from a narrow angle was palmed down by goalkeeper Alex Moore and adjudged to have crossed the line – a decision which Currie didn’t agree with.

Currie’s men were on the end of a similar call earlier this season in a defeat to Linfield at Windsor Park when Matthew Fitzpatrick’s shot was awarded as a goal despite doubts over whether the ball had crossed the line.

placeholder image — Portadown manager Niall Currie. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

"We have 10 minutes left in the game and there has been a huge decision made,” Currie told the club’s media channel. “That’s killed the game.

"The whole stadium was numb, it went quiet, nobody understood what had went on...that was the moment we’re all sitting scratching our heads.

"I think with 10 minutes to go in a game you still have a huge chance and the game was taken away from us by a ridiculous decision.

"People talk to me about VAR, the bottom line is unless you’re 100% as a linesman about a decision, you can’t give it.

"If he’s 100% about that decision, he’s going to find out when he watches it back he was wrong. We’ll see what happens then.

"That’s the second time this season.

"Alex’s legs are behind the line, no problem, but when he catches the ball it’s just below the crossbar, and when it bounces down, it bounces on the line, so the ball did not cross the line as far as I can see.

"It’s a huge decision with 10 minutes to go in a game where we’re going helter-skelter to get a goal...it was a pin in the balloon moment and it’s hugely disappointing, I think we deserve better than that.”

Striker Ahu Obhakhan made only his seventh league start of the season on Wednesday night while Rabby Minzamba came off the bench at half-time to register a first outing since January.

However, Currie is now set to be without Lee Chapman and Lewis MacKinnon for Saturday’s trip to Ballymena United and insists this term has been unlike any other in terms of injuries and suspensions.

"The biggest problem is we’re missing some big players, game-changers for me,” he added. “It was great to have the two of them (Rabby and Ahu) back and Shay (McCartan) and Luke (Wilson) will be available on Saturday.

"We’ve lost Chappers tonight, we’ve lost MacKinnon...it’s hugely disappointing. I’ve never seen in all my time, 23 years as a manager, a season like it in regards to injuries, suspension...you think you’re getting some oxygen to breathe again by getting a few bodies back and then you lose a few more.

"Losing Aaron McCarey has been huge for us, Gary Thompson is a huge loss, MacKinnon is out and Chappers, they’re big hits.

"We need to bounce back and get a couple of wins.”