Sat 5th February

Glentoran 3 Ballymena Utd 2

Today the Glens strengthened their hold on second place in the table as two Scott Young goals saw off the Sky Blue men from Ballymena.  It only took 4 minutes for the home side to strike first and it was the man of the moment Stuart Elliott.  His pace took easily took him past Mark Carlisle on the left, he cut inside and fired in a low drive across the face of the goal into the bottom corner of the net.  On 12 minutes it could have been 2-0, Pete Batey got onto the end of Rory Hamill's flick but his shot was well charged down by the Ballymena defence.  The away side didn't fold however and they were the better of the two sides in the next 20 minutes, and they got their deserved equaliser after 17 minutes.  Tim McCann's defensive header looped into the air in the box and Glenn Hunter header a tame effort straight at Gough who looked to have dealt with comfortably but somehow he managed to drop the ball through his legs and over the line.  The away supporters were obviously surprised and started to sing Dodgy Keeper, with some home fans doing the same understandably.  Six minutes later Ballymena nearly took the lead, Glenn Hunter again causing trouble in around the Glens defence easily beat Paul Leeman and his cross ball shot into the box was just cut out by Walker who sent the ball out for a corner.  After 25 minutes the visitors again had a great opportunity Andy Swallwell's long range effort was well stopped by Gough who had to move smartly to his left to stop.  Every time Glenn Hunter got the ball he seemed to skin Chris Walker, the same as Tuesday night when McPherson did the same, is it time for a Change??? I think so...

Half Time Champions 1 Ballymena Utd 1

The Champions then went took another early lead this time at the start of the second half, Ian Gilzean slipping Young a superb through ball and Scott Young gladly obliged by neatly placing his shot past Callaghan, we thought that would be the last of Ballymena's goals but they equalised shortly afterwards, Tumilty found Glenn Hunter out wide on the right which Chris Walker had stopped and claimed that he was off side but who was clearly on side Alan Gough for some reason came rushing off his line to the edge of his box, Hunter took the ball past Gough and shot from an acute angle into the far corner of the net, very well taken by the ex Crusaders man but surely Alan Gough had no right to come out that far.  Scott Young then got the Glens third and his second of the game via the penalty spot.  Substitute Brian Russell had won the kick by playing the ball of McConnell and Young calmly stroked the ball past Callaghan for the second time.  Three minutes later the other sub Davey Rainey danced his way through the Ballymena defence but his powerful drive was driven into the side netting. 

Team

Gough 3, Leeman 6, Kennedy 5, Walker 5, McCombe 6, Young 8, McCann 7, Hamill 7, Gilzean 7, Batey 5, Elliott 8 Subs Nixon 6, Rainey 7, Russell 6

Man of the Match Scott Young

Referee David Malcolm 6,Made Some mind Puzzling decisions.....