Irish Premier League

9th October

Glentoran 3 Coleraine 2

Glens Hold Out in Thriller

Glentoran Were finally presented the Champions flag from league sponsors Smirnoff before today's game and Roy Coyle dedicated the flag and the much needed points to the Glentoran Chairman Ted Brownlee who is recovering in hospital from illness.  The Glens started brightly and so did the visitors, bad defending was the cause but it was entertaining all the same and in the first half hour the two goalkeepers were the top performers.  The Coleraine keeper was the more busier and was forced into a couple of outstanding stops.  Alan Gough also made a wonderful save in the first half hour from Dessie Loughery when he shot from an acute angle and Gough superbly saved and was cleared.

Then came the controversial moment in the 1st half, when former Glentoran player Michael Smyth was harshly sent off, but he did show the studs on McCann, Smyth was booked immediately booked by Snoddy, but McCann kept complaining to the Ref about the challenge and Smyth was dismissed after debating the Referee's judgment. 

The Champions did however take the lead just before the break when a miss hit shot by skipper Pete Batey fell into the path of David Rainey and Rainey placed the ball past McKeown into the far corner.  Despite claims for offside by the Coleraine defence but too avail the goal stood.

The second half started off in a hurry again, and just after the hour mark the Bannsiders drew level due to a lapse in the Glens defence, McHugh strolled through the Glens defence and calmly lofted the ball over the oncoming Gough, 1-1 and the Visitors deserved it if not more.  All was looking gloom for the Glens but out of the blue, the ball was cleared out of the away team box and the bal fell perfectly for David Rainey and he sweetly struck his left foot shot past McKeown from all of 30 yards.  30 seconds later the Champions were 3-1 up, the ball was sent through the Coleraine defence from a delicate header by Hamill and Elliott raced onto the through ball and with ease passed the ball again past McKeown.

The Glens were 3-1 up and were very fortunate to be in such a comfortable position.  But the Bannsiders weren't finished with substitute Marty McCann struck a cracker from 35 yards passed Gough, 3-2 Coleraine were certainly not finished, and the Glens were very fortunate to hold on with the visitors missing numerous chances in the final few minutes.

Team