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The Colts league
campaign continued with an early 12 o’clock kick off on Saturday 17th
November 2007 with an away game against Loughgall at Loughgall Country
Park.
With a very strong
wind blowing diagonally across the pitch and continuous rain throughout
the game conditions were far from ideal for players (and those on the
line).
The Glens made two
changes from the previous game with captain Doyle moving back into the
middle of defence to replace Fitzsimmons and with Brannigan dropping
back to right back under 16 player Gallagher came in on the right hand
side of midfield.
The game was only 5
minutes old when Glentoran should have had a penalty when Southams
driving run into the box saw him brought down only for the referee to
wave play on. Then a couple of minutes later good work by Holmes down
the left saw him deliver an excellent cross into the box but the
incoming Gallaghers header flew narrowly over the bar.
Shortly after this
the Glens were forced to make a substitution and bring on Craig for
Atkinson who suffered a nasty gash to his ankle. With this Craig went
wide right and Gallagher moved into the middle of midfield.
Glentoran couldn’t
get their passing game going as a very determined Loughgall were working
very hard in closing them down and not giving them any time on the ball.
However on 17 minutes
Buckley played a through ball to Selfridge in the inside left position.
He evaded the defender but ended up wide in the six yard box. With such
a tight angle everyone was expecting the ball to be played back across
goal with his left foot. Selfridge however had other ideas and noticing
a gap at the near post drove the ball low into the net with the outside
of his right foot before the keeper could move to the disbelief of
everyone on and off the pitch to make it 1-0 to the Glens.
On 20 minutes a good
move by Buckley, Holmes and Selfridge down the left saw the ball teed up
for Hunter but his shot went wide. Shortly after this good work by
Southam saw him create himself space 20yds out but his shot went over.
The Glens however
weren’t having it all their own way and Loughgall continued to press
and indeed on 35 minutes the Loughgall forward evaded the Glens defence
and got a good shot off from 20yds which Moore did well to touch over as
it headed for the top corner.This resulted in a number of corners in
quick succession for Loughgall and from subsequent crosses the ball flew
across the six yard box but Loughgall were unable to apply the final
touch.
Then just before
halftime more good work by Holmes saw him cut in and lay the ball off to
Buckley who shot over.
Half Time:
Glentoran 1
Loughgall 0
The second half was
only 6 minutes old when the Glens almost had a second goal. A scramble
in the box saw Selfridges shot deflected over the keeper but somehow the
defender cleared it off the line with an overhead kick.
The Glens were
playing slightly better this half all over the pitch and Gallagher in
particular was working tirelessly in midfield creating and breaking up
play.
Disaster struck for
the Glens17 minutes into the half when keeper Moore collected the ball
near his left hand post and attempted to throw it to right back
Brannigan. The ball however landed at the feet of the Loughgall forward
in front of the empty net who poked it home to make it 1-1.
The Glens then lost
Hunter with an ankle injury after a challenge in the midfield. Beattie
came on for him going to right back with Brannigan moving into the
middle of the park to take Hunters role.
The Glens then had a
chance to take the lead again when Selfridge played the ball down the
right for the overlapping run of Beattie who delivered a perfect cross
into the box only for Southam to head it wide. Then a long pass from
Doyle was chested down by Southam only for his shot to be pushed wide by
the keeper. From the resultant corner Holmes hit a shot from the edge of
the box which flew just over.
Loughgall weren’t
creating a lot at this stage but should have been down to 10 men when
one of their midfielders made a bad two footed tackle on the impressive
Gallagher in the middle of the park. Thankfully Gallagher was able to
continue after treatment but the referee however only awarded the free
kick and a yellow card.
Then in the 35th
minute the Glens had another chance when a good free kick from Craig
into the box saw Southam put his header over the bar.
The Glens however
took the lead a minute leader when Brannigan played a long pass over the
Loughgall defence and a race between Selfridge and the keeper saw
Selfridge slide in 20yds out to get to the ball first and put it over
the keeper and into the net for his second of the game (and 8th
in the last 5 games).
The Glens then lost
McBurney to injury and he was replaced by Quinn.
The Glens were
battling hard to keep possession and hold on to their lead. Loughgall
should have been reduced to 10 men again in the 40th minute
when Selfridge made a hard but fair sliding tackle on the Loughgall
defender who got up and kicked Selfridge whilst he was on the ground.
The referee however again only awarded the free kick and booked the
Loughgall player.
Then in the final
minute Doyle played another good long ball down the right for Selfridge
who delivered the perfect low cross for Southam to run onto and make it
3-1 to Glentoran.
Loughgall to their
credit continued to try and play and 3 minutes into added time a 30yd
shot from one of their midfielders flew over Moores head and into the
back of the net to make it 3-2 which is how it remained.
Full Time: Glentoran
3 Loughgall
2
Scorers:
Selfridge (2), Southam
Team:
D Moore, K Buckley, A Doyle, W McBurney (D Quinn 80mins), J
Brannigan
J Gallagher, N Atkinson (S
Craig 8mins), M Hunter (G Beattie 65mins), J Gallagher,
M Selfridge, S Southam
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