Glentoran 3 Lisburn Distillery 1

Saturday 23rd October

Glens Scrape Through in Below Par Performance

Today in the Rain Swept conditions the visitors to the Oval were Lisburn Distillery who were before todays game lay bottom of the Irish Premier League.  The conditions worsened as the game went on, which set up a very dull first half with very few chances testing either goalkeeper.  Infact in the first half hour the Glens goalkeeper Alan Gough was the busiest having to save a low down from an Armour header and having numerous close efforts from Distillery Left Back Chris Deegan who fancied himself with a few long range efforts all very close with Gough scrambling across to cover.

Too many times the Glens gave the ball away today with very scrappy passes and were struggling to impress until John Kennedy nipped in at the back post in the 22nd minute to head the Glens in front, the Distillery defence sliced a through ball and the ball landed on Kennedy's head to ease the ball into the net past McDonald.

Half Time Glentoran 1Lisburn Distillery

The second half started much the same as the first half did.  Frankie Hiles booking players at will, and was starting to let the game boil over at a stage, Hiles also gave the most baffling decisions today which confused even his assistants at times.

The equaliser came for Distillery mid way into the second half. A free kick from the edge of the 18 yard box from Deegan who curled the ball around the wall with Gough palming the ball in at his near post, a goalkeeping blunder much to the amazement of Deegan who then celebrated. Lisburn Distillery fully deserved the goal and were going for the killer blow from then on in.

But the Glens did not sit back, Ferguson came on for the again disappointing Hamill with Leeman pushing into Midfield and Ferguson fitting into the centre half role and looked very comfortable there. The pressure was beginning to tell for the Whites with the Glens forcing endless corners and the two remaining substitutes were brought on Kelly for the disappointing Gilzean and Russell for the injured Rainey and the pressure paid off with 15 minutes left when Tim McCann crossed a beautiful flighted ball into the box for Elliott to power his header past McDonald, the Distillery players were gutted with the effort they had shown today and in injury time Tim McCann bundled the Glens third and final goal in firstly saved by McDonald but McCann followed through and placed the ball into the empty net.

A flattering victory for the Champions who on this performance must improve before next Saturday.

Team

My Man of the Match Colin Nixon