Under the watchful eye of UEFA President Michel Platini the Scot got on the end of a Wesley Boyle header to dink a left-foot shot past City 'keeper Andy Coleman after half-an-hour.

The game started brightly with Newry producing a double save from Ports 'keeper David Miskelly as he denied a Richard Clarke free-kick and Emmett Friars' follow-up.

The Ports responded with an Andy Hunter header while John Convery later struck the bar with another header - and at the other end Chris Morgan almost ensured Newry went in at the break on level terms when he crashed a thunderous effort off the crossbar from some 20-yards.

After the interval the woodwork was struck again when Newry's Kevin Keegan fired against the far post while Morgan wasn't able to get a strong enough touch to the rebound.

For Portadown Boyle fired over, had another effort blocked and Richard Lecky teed up McCutcheon only for the frontman to slice the ball wide of the target.