Team selection, substitutions and coming back from a goal down to win in a great cup tie is what we should be focussing on. Instead it’s the mindless idiots who grab the headlines again.

And before anyone points an accusing finger in any particular direction, there are very few clubs in this league who don’t have idiots connected to them. The teams that they ‘support’ (and I use that term very loosely) are the ones who suffer. Do they care? The answer is pretty obvious.

The opening quarter of this game saw two decent teams cancel each other out with very few clear opportunities. Midway through the half a firework exploded amongst those sitting on the Glentoran bench. Assistant manager, Pete Batey and goalkeeping coach, David McClelland bore the brunt of it. Fortunately it seems both are ok. Luckily! There’s nothing we can say on here that would register with the people who do such things. They don’t care.

Match wise – on 29 minutes Sean Ward broke down the right and found Darren Boyce in a great position. Unfortunately Boyce’s shot was cleared off the line. Jimmy Callacher picked up a yellow card, conceding a free kick on the edge of the area just after the half-hour. The wall did its job and Glentoran broke away but unfortunately possession was conceded deep in the Portadown half and they counter-attacked down the left. The cross found the in-form Tipton and the back post and he stroked the ball past Elliott Morris.

2 minutes after the interval a sliced clearance by Ross Redman left keeper, David Miskelly stranded and substitute Jim O’Hanlon had a half chance. The ball was blocked on the line and Gary Hamilton was unlucky, following up, not to equalise. Glentoran’s other sub, Richard Gibson, got on the end of a David Howland free kick (53) but his header was straight at Miskelly. On 58 minutes the Glens were awarded another free-kick and this time they took full advantage. Gary Hamilton took the set piece and found Colin Nixon 10 yards from goal. The captain’s header powered past David Miskelly. It was his 6th goal of the season and 81st for Glentoran. Phenomenal. Unfortunately we’d another break in play as the mindless idiots once again tried to take centre stage. After the re-start Matthew Tipton came close to restoring the Ports lead but his shot came back off the post. Gary Hamilton put the Glens in front with a stunning strike on 65 minutes. Jim O’Hanlon went past Redman on the left edge of the box but his attempt on goal was blocked. The ball ran to Hamilton though and his 25 yard effort found the bottom corner. Both teams continued to go for goals; Boyle and Tipton going close for Portadown and Martyn & Ward almost wrapping it up for Glentoran. Midway through the 7 minutes of added time Jamie Tumelty almost grabbed an equaliser but Nixon was on hand to clear off the line.

Glentoran: Morris, Ward, Hill, Nixon (capt), Callacher, Clarke, Howland, Martyn, Boyce, Carson & Hamilton.
Subs: O’Hanlon & Gibson for Clarke & Boyce (46).                     

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