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Glentoran Colts
played Ballinamallard in the league at Mallusk on Saturday 10th
November 2007 hoping to keep their unbeaten start to the season going
and with a very strong wind blowing at a slight angle across the pitch
it was always going to be difficult conditions for both teams to play
in.
Glentoran made three
changes from last weeks winning team with captain Doyle slotting in at
right back, Brannigan coming in on the right side of midfield and Sean
Southam joining Selfridge up front.
Ballinamallard with a
slight wind advantage started the brighter of the two teams and put the
Colts back line under a fair bit of pressure. The opposition took the
lead 18 minutes into the game when they broke down the right and when
the ball arrived across the box their unmarked forward slotted the ball
away. The continued to press and only some last ditch defending by
McBurney in particular prevented them increasing the lead
Glentoran couldn’t
get going but Southam broke only to shoot tamely at the keeper. On 30
minutes good work resulted in the ball being fed out to Holmes on the
left who delivered a great cross only to see Selfridges header fly
narrowly over the bar and 5 minutes later a good through ball from Doyle
saw Selfridge chest it down but his attempted chip couldn’t beat the
keeper.
The game became very
heated in the final 15 minutes of the half with a number of very heavy
challenges from both sides resulting in a lot of free kicks being
awarded and the Ballinamallard official refereeing was having a
difficult time controlling the game.
Although
Ballinamallard were still edging possession slightly the Glens snatched
an equaliser just before half time when a good corner from Holmes saw
the ball come off Fitzsimmons and go in.
Half Time: Glentoran 1 Ballinamallard 1
The Glens started the
second half better and were putting pressure on the Ballinamallard
defence. Holmes was getting down the left and Brannigan down the right
.Whilst in the middle of the park Atkinson and Hunter in particular
started to take control of the midfield and link well with the hard
working front pair of Southam and Selfridge. The defence were also
looking more assured and in control and young u16 keeper Duffinshowed a good pair of hands collecting and holding any crosses
which came over.
The Glens got the
breakthrough 9 minutes into the half when a free kick near the edge of
the box down the Glentoran right was floated into the near post by
Holmes. Selfridge challenged the defender and the keeper and as the
keeper dropped it Selfridge reacted quickest to tap the ball in to make
it 2-1 to the Glens.
This seemed to settle
the Glens and they started to pass the ball around well right throughout
the team.
Craig came on for
Holmes on the left after 15 minutes. On 17 minutes a great long ball from Hunter deep in his own half
saw Selfridge stretch to reach it on the volley on the edge of the box
and lob the keeper who got his finger tips to it to push it just past
the post. Then 10 minutes later after good closing down by the Glens
midfield Atkinson got the ball 40 yards out and seeing the keeper off
his line chipped the ball over the keepers head only to see it go
narrowly wide.
Quinn replaced
Fitsimmons and a short time later McDonnell replaced Brannigan.
The Glens were
dominating play and were in control with some good possession football
but on 35 minutes a lapse in concentration saw Ballinamallard break down
Glentorans left and into the box but luckily for the Glens the forwards
shot flew just past the far post.
Then with 42 minutes
gone a long ball through into the box by Ballinamallard saw Buckley and
the forward chase the ball and as both players got tangled and fell to
the ground the referee pointed to the spot to the disbelieve of the
Glentoran players and sideline. Their player stepped up to make it 2-2.
Then right on the
45th minute of the second half Ballinamallard got a corner and as it was
floated into the box the centre forward rose unchallenged to head it in
and make it 3-2 to Ballinamallard.
It looked like the
Colts unbeaten run had come to an end.
However as the saying
goes it’s not over until the final whistle and 3 minutes into added
time a long ball from deep inside Glentorans half over the
Ballinamallard defence saw Selfridge nip in to bring the ball down well
before slotting it past the keeper to make it 3-3. With this the final
whistle went.
Full Time: Glentoran 3 Ballinamallard 3
Scorers:Selfridge (2), Fitzsimmons
Team: Duffin, A Doyle, S Fitzsimmons (D Quinn 70mins), W McBurney, K
Buckley, C Holmes (S Craig 60 mins), J Brannigan (S McDonnell 75 mins),
M Hunter,N Atkinson, M Selfridge, S Southam
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