Saturday 12th February

Cliftonville 2 Glentoran 2

Honours Even in Belfast Cracker

At Solitude the today, it was bitterly cold, the rain and the wind made it atrocious conditions but it didn't spoil the game one bit, in fact in turned out to be a cracking game.  Cliftonville took the lead after just 7 minutes with a beautiful move, Gribben took the ball down the right, he found Mullholland on the left he knocked the ball into Chris Scannel and he superbly controlled the ball on the chest and his neat volley lob looped over Alan Gough for one of the goals of the season. 

The equaliser for the Champions came on 31 minutes when Michael Ferguson's first game for 2 months, his floated free kick reached Ian Gilzean and his backward header looped over debut keeper Scullion and into the back of the net 1-1. 

Four minutes later there was a 18 man scuffle, Ian Gilzean and Larry McMahon the culprits both receiving yellow cards, and took Referee Ross several minutes to sort out the fury between the two sides.  From the drop ball restart Brian Russell completely creamed Mullholland and received a yellow card for.  From the free kick the home side were given a penalty Scannel dribbled into the box and the slight nudge by McCombe sent Scanned diving into the box, and with no hesitation at all the Referee awarded a penalty to the disgust of the huge Glentoran following behind the goals.  Tommy McCallion stepped up to take the kick and Alan Gough made a tremendous save with his legs to clear the ball away to safety.

Half Time Cliftonville 1 Glentoran  1

Five minutes into the second half the Reds had a corner kick, which McCallion took, Brian Russell attempted an Iain Dowie header into his own goal, with a scramble on the line but Ross had awarded a goal from the Russell header. 

Brian Russell redeemed himself though 7 minutes later Pete Batey doing very well to win the tackle against Murray and Hamill's delicate chip was nodded past Scullion and in off the far post to send the travelling fans into raptures.  Stuart Zico Elliott was today being watched by Scottish Premier outfit St Johnstone but he was poor today and was subbed on 63 minutes for David Rainey who himself was very disappointing also.  Rory Hamill then came so close to scoring his first of the season when his scissor kick was superbly saved by Scullion diving low to his left to palm wide. 

With 10 minutes remaining the hard Working Ian Gilzean was subbed for Old Reds boy Tim McCann to receive his daily treatment by Cliftonville, Foul him any time he goes near the ball with the harsh chants from the rather pathetic turnout of Cliftonville fans.

Glentoran Gough 7, Nixon 7, Ferguson 6, Leeman 8, McCombe 7, Young 7, Russell 7, Hamill 8, Gilzean 8, Batey 9, Elliott 5 Subs Rainey 6, McCann 6 Sub not used Halliday

Referee Michael Ross 5(Worst This Season)

Man of the Match Pete Batey