Fifth Round

Glentoran 3 Crusaders 0

Saturday 22nd January

Glens Crues into Next Round

Glentoran went into Crues control mode to keep their season alive.  The outgoing League Champions whole 1999/2000 season hinged onto today's game, and they weren't to be disappointed at the Oval. There really wasn't much to report in the first 35 minutes apart from the odd shot, Hamill shot wide on 20 minutes and two minutes later the Visitors had their first real chance when scored of two goals against the Glens last week Martin Reilly dribbled around keeper Alan Gough but his low cross from an acute angle was cleared off the line by Center Half Alistair McCombe.  Ian Gilzean got the Glens first goal after 35 minutes, first Rory Hamill's powerful drive was brilliantly tipped away by O'Hare, 30 seconds later he was picking the bal out of the net, Nixon retrieved the ball and his far post looping cross was brilliantly met by a glancing header of Gilzean and the ball went in off the far post beating the fully stretched O'Hare.  In the 44th minute Gilzean nearly grabbed his second and could have been his 4th goal in as many games, he scuffed his shot from 8 yards and McCann repeated the bad luck by scuffing his cross into O'Hare's hands.

Two nil shortly came after the restart of the second half, 6 minutes into the half to be exact, Gilzean released the pacey Elliott down the left wing and his low cross was hit first time by Scott Young at goal and O'Hare fumbled the ball over the line.  Minutes later Crusaders Sub McRae was very fortunate not to be sent off when he seemed to kick out a Colin Nixon surely a red card offence but on the Pathetic performance by Referee Irvine he resulted in booking both players and managed to book John Kennedy also for voicing his disapproval, which sent the Oval crowd berserk.  At this stage Irvine totally lost control and booked Donaghy of Crusaders, along with Hamill, and Gilzean.  The third goal capped off an impressive performance by the Champions, with Young returning Elliott the favour by playing him through on goal and Zico Elliott calmly lofted the ball over O'Hare's head and into the net.  The Glens would have won 5 or 6 if it wasn't for Davy O'Hare who made fantastic saves all match notably through Hamill, an Elliott goal bound header, and a 25 yard curling shot from Ian Gilzean.

Our Quest goes on to Retain this Irish Cup as the Glens were the last team to actually win it Properly, or should I say the last time an Irish Cup Final was played, and also the Quest continues to pick up all four cup competitions, apart from the Gibson Cup of course, Roll on Armagh City Away Feb 19th in the Sixth Round.

Team

Gough 7, Nixon 8, Kennedy 7, Walker 7, McCombe 7, Young 8, McCann 7, Hamill 7, Gilzean 8, Batey 7, Elliott 7 Sub all Unused Rainey, Leeman, Russell

Referee Leslie Irvine 4( An Embarrassing display from this so Called Uefa Referee)

My Man of the Match Ian Gilzean