After last week’s defeat to Donegal Celtic there was little optimism amongst the Glentoran support as they travelled to Windsor Park hoping for the first League win away to Linfield since 2000.  But a Ciaran Martyn goal in the 22nd minute was enough to take three points and a well deserved win back to East Belfast.

Captain Colin Nixon returned to the side in place of the suspended Johnny Taylor, Jim O’Hanlon returned to the starting XI in place of Richard Clarke while Gary Hamilton made his first start since his loan spell at Glenavon.  After an even enough start the first real chance of the game fell to Linfield when Jamie Mulgrew's cross found an unmarked Mark McAllister who should have done better, but his shot was blocked by Jaimie McGovern.  Three minutes later there was an even better chance at the other end; Gary Hamilton picked up a throw in the Linfield area and played in Ciaran Martyn who looked certain to score but he fired his shot over the cross bar.  On 18 minutes Martyn had another chance to open the scoring when he was sent clear of the Linfield defence but overran the ball and Linfield goalkeeper Alan Blayney was able to gather.

However it proved to be third time lucky for the ex Derry City man four minutes later.  Gary Hamilton whipped in a free kick from the left, Blayney made a hash of his attempted clearance and the ball fell nicely for Martyn who this time made no mistake, blasting it into the roof of the net.  Linfield had a chance to equalise 5 minutes later when McAllister made a break along the bye line but elected to shoot into the side netting instead of playing in one of his better placed colleagues.  Neither ‘keeper was really troubled for the rest of the half with Stephen Carson and Jason Hill firing shots just wide and Daryl Fordyce’s overhead kick easily dealt with by Elliott Morris.

Early in the second half a Gary Hamilton header from a Jaimie McGovern throw was clutched by Blayney and on the hour mark Mark McAllister looked to have another great chance as he broke clear of the Glentoran defence, but was thwarted by a superb last ditch tackle from Jason Hill.  For the last half hour Linfield enjoyed the majority of the possession in midfield but rarely seriously threatened the Glentoran goal.  Substitute Richard Gibson, on for Darren Boyce, was left on his own up front while a five man midfield were happy to soak up the Linfield pressure.  Indeed the visitors had their chances on the break, a blocked Ciaran Martyn effort falling for substitute Martin Murray who should have done better but Blayney saved comfortably.  Murray came close once more, this time a header from a Stephen Carson cross, but the ball rolled agonisingly past the far post with Blayney beaten.  Linfield’s best effort of the game came with 10 minutes left, Chris Casement’s well struck free kick from 25 yards superbly turned over the bar by Elliott Morris, his only serious save of the game.

Glentoran were happy to run down the clock and did so with relative ease, referee Brian Turkington’s final whistle greeted with joyous celebrations in the North Stand.  So the long Windsor Park hoodoo is broken, a morale boosting away win against our biggest rivals and manager Scott Young, along with the Glentoran support, will be hoping for more of the same as we now face two consecutive home games against Coleraine and Cliftonville.

Glentoran
Elliott Morris, Jaimie McGovern (sub Richard Clarke 69 mins), Sean Ward, Colin Nixon, Jason Hill, Jim O’Hanlon (sub Martin Murray 55 mins), Ciaran Martyn, David Howland, Stephen Carson, Gary Hamilton, Darren Boyce (sub Richard Gibson 63 mins)

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