A youthful Glentoran team came from a goal down to progress to the next round of the County Antrim Shield in an entertaining affair against Carrick Rangers at the Oval.

Scott Young made seven changes to the starting line up and the youngsters made a bright start, always looking to play the ball to feet or run at the Carrick defence.  However just 7 minutes in their task was made more difficult when Jason Hill brought down Carrick’s John Boyce just outside the Glentoran area.  While it was a clear foul it looked as though there was a covering player but referee Hugh Carvill ruled that he was the last man and produced a straight red card.  Carrick took full advantage of the extra man and started to create chances, Paul McDowell’s twenty yard shot beaten out by Aaron Hogg and Paul Owens’ corner headed onto the top of the cross bar by Michael McClean.  The home side then seemed to adjust to playing a man short and started to create some chances of their own.  Owain Beggs dragged a good chance wide after Carrick failed to clear a Stephen Carson corner and Jim O’Hanlon, whose runs caused Carrick problems all evening, slipped the ball through to Jimmy Callacher but Carrick’s Slovakian goalkeeper Maros Valko saved well at his feet.  On 26 minutes Carrick were also reduced to ten men when Michael McClean pulled back Owain Beggs for his second yellow card of the game and so received his marching orders.

Glentoran seemed to lose their concentration after this incident as just a minute later Carrick were ahead.  John Boyce made a break down the right and whipped in a superb cross onto the head of Paul McDowell whose diving header flew into the bottom corner.  Almost straight from the kick off the Glens were level again and there was another superb goal for the fans to enjoy.  Stephen Carson played the ball in to the feet of Owain Beggs on the edge of the Carrick area and he turned brilliantly and fired an unstoppable shot past Valko for his first goal for the first team.

After the break the young Glens stepped things up a gear and always looked the more likely team to score.  On 58 minutes they did just that and it was no surprise that it was the tricky O’Hanlon that made the breakthrough.  Picking up the ball on the right he cut inside and fired a left foot shot into the top corner from 20 yards giving Valko no chance.  Two minutes later and the Glens gave themselves a two goal cushion; Martin Murray was brought down right on the edge of the Carrick area and from the subsequent free kick Jimmy Callacher whipped the ball right footed round the wall and into the bottom corner.  At this stage the home side were completely in control and on 65 minutes O’Hanlon was at it again.  A jinking run past the Carrick defence saw him half hit a shot from a tight angle, but luck was on his side as Valko fumbled and the ball trickled over the line.
The game was now won and the Glens were happy to play possession football to see out the rest of the 90 minutes.  Aaron Hogg was a virtual spectator but had to be on his mettle on 79 minutes when Paul Owens cut in from the right and hit a stinging shot which was superbly turned over the bar.  Two minutes from time Carrick did manage to get on the score sheet again as substitute Aaron Harmon broke down the left and found the unmarked Paul Owens who had an easy finish at the far post.  This was a mere consolation for the visitors but right on the whistle the Glens restored the three goal advantage.  Once again O’Hanlon was involved as he dinked a cross from the right to find substitute Darren Boyce at the far post who sent his header back across Valko and into the bottom corner.

So an entertaining evening at the Oval with a number of the younger players staking their claim for a regular first team slot, progress to the next round of the Shield and the fans now hoping that this sort of form can be carried forward into the forthcoming league games.

Glentoran
Aaron Hogg, Matthew Johnston, Colin Nixon, Sean Ward, Jason Hill, Jim O’Hanlon, Kyle Cherry (sub Richard Clarke), Jimmy Callacher (sub John McGuigan), Stephen Carson, Martin Murray, Owain Beggs (sub Darren Boyce)

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