|
Glentoran Colts continued their league
campaign when they played Ballyclare Comrades on Saturday 24th
November 2007 at Mallusk Playing Fields.
For the third week in a row the weather
was to play a part and again strong winds blowing diagonally across the
pitch made playing conditions difficult for both sides.
The Colts made a couple of changes from
the previous weeks starting eleven with Quinn coming into the centre of
defence and McBurney moving to left back. Buckley was then pushed
forward on to the left side of midfield to replace Holmes and Craig
replaced Gallagher on the right side of midfield.
The Glens had the majority of the play
in the opening 10 minutes and were playing the better football but were
unable to create any chances against a resolute Ballyclare side and
neither keeper had a save to make.
Ballyclare did make a rare break
forward on 11 minutes but good cover by Doyle ensured the attacker was
unable to get his shot off.
Glentoran took the lead two minutes
later when a good ball from Brannigan over the Ballyclare defence saw
leading scorer Matt Selfridge get behind the defenders down the inside
right channel and clinically lob the keeper from the edge of the box.
The Glens increased their lead 4
minutes later with probably the best move of the game. Hunter won the
ball in midfield and after beating the Ballyclare midfielder played a
pass to Selfridge just outside the box. He also evaded his marker and
played a good ball down the left wing for Buckley who outpaced the full
back and delivered a perfect cross for Southam to head in giving the
keeper no chance and a 2-0 lead to the Glens
5 minutes later Ballyclare made another
rare break and just when it seemed they might pull a goal back Quinn
came across and made a last ditch challenge to put the ball out for a
throw.
Glentoran were playing well and in the
next 10 minutes could have increased their lead with a number of
efforts. Firstly a Southam header hit the bar, then he had a shot which
hit the side netting and Selfridge attempted another lob which the
keeper got to this time.
Ballyclare were becoming frustrated and
a number of bad challenges by their defenders on Southam, Atkinson and
Selfridge in particular resulted in free kicks to the Glens, a yellow
card and a talking to by the Ballyclare official refereeing.
Glentoran then could have added to
their tally when Selfridge won the ball and again played it to Buckley
down the left who delivered another great cross only to see Southams
header brilliantly tipped over by the keeper.
The Glens eventually got their third
goal on 37 minutes when centre back Doyle won a header which Selfridge
played on to Southam. He in
turn laid the ball off to Atkinson who took the ball round the keeper
only to see his shot deflected and as it slowed near the line, Southam
won a race with the defender to get to the ball first and make sure of
the goal with a tap in.
Half Time:
Glentoran 3 Ballyclare Comrades
0
At half time Glentoran replaced captain
Doyle with Fitzsimmons due to a knee injury and 2 minutes into the half
as the Colts adjusted to the change Ballyclare broke and only a good
save from keeper Moore kept them out.
5 minutes later more good work by
Atkinson in the middle of the park saw him lay the ball off to Hunter
whose 25 yard shot flew just over.
Ballyclare pulled one back 8 minutes
into the half when a through ball caught the defence napping and the
Ballyclare forward hit a great left footed shot from the edge of the box
which gave keeper Moore no chance and make the score 3-1.
However the Colts restored their lead 5
minutes later when from a throw on Glentorans left Buckley received the
ball and cut in before unleashing a left footed shot from 22yds which
hit the back of the net before the keeper could move.
Shortly after this the Glens brought on
McDonnell for Craig and then Holmes for Buckley.
23 minutes into the half the Colts
increased their lead again when good work by left back McBurney saw him
beat a number of Ballyclare players before hitting a right footed shot,
almost from the same place that Buckley had hit his from, and with the
same effect, as in was in the net before the keeper could move
Southam then had a chance to complete
his hat trick but as he took the ball round the keeper he was forced
wide and the ball hit a divot as he hit it and flew over the bar.
The Glens were in control but with 15
minutes to go Ballyclare broke into the 6yd box and Quinn made an
excellent tackle to put the ball out for a corner. However the referee
(who had a good game overall apart from this) pointed to the penalty
spot as the attacker went down over Quinns legs.
Ballyclare
slotted it away to make it 5-2 which is how the game finished.
Full Time:
Glentoran 5 Ballyclare Comrades
2
Scorers: Southam (2), Selfridge,
Buckley, Atkinson
Team:D Moore, J Brannigan, A Doyle (S
Fitzsimmons 45mins), D Quinn, W McBurney, S
Craig (S McDonnell 65mins), K Buckley (C Holmes 70mins), M Hunter, N
Atkinson, M Selfridge, S Southam
Next
Game: 1st
December 2007 -
3rd Round Harry Cavan Youth Cup
Glentoran
Colts v
Portadown III
Blanchflower Stadium
|
