A superb second half display from Glentoran at a rain soaked Stangmore Park saw the visitors pick up all 3 points and improve their goal difference by 5.

The first half took a while to get going and we’d played almost a quarter of an hour before Glentoran had their first effort on goal. David Howland’s cross-field ball found Jim O’Hanlon and his first time effort was just about kept out by Swifts keeper Niall Morgan. Moments later the dangerous Stefan Lavery found space on the edge of the Glens’ box but he dragged his shot wide. Glentoran went in front on 16 minutes. Gary Hamilton’s left wing corner was met by Ciaran Martyn and his header gave Morgan no chance. A couple of minutes later Ward and O’Hanlon combined well on the right but Ward’s cross just eluded Gibson and Hamilton in the penalty area. Midway through the first half it was almost 2-nil. Stephen Carson’s dangerous cross was met by O’Hanlon but his shot came back off the upright and the danger was cleared. On 27 minutes a long punt up field was misjudged by Jimmy Callacher and Stefan Lavery was left with only Elliott Morris to beat. The Glens keeper denied him though, saving well with his feet. On the half hour mark a shot on the turn from Johnny Topley was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Morris. Dungannon Swifts continued to press for an equaliser and Lavery had another effort on target kept out by Morris. Swifts’ keeper, Morgan was almost embarrassed on 34 minutes. A cross from O’Hanlon was controlled by Hamilton and his shot on the turn almost crept under the keeper’s body. He recovered well though with Gibson closing in. 2 minutes from the break Glentoran almost threw away their advantage with some sloppy defending. Fortunately Sean Ward managed to scramble the ball clear and the Glens headed into the interval, perhaps fortunately, with a one goal advantage.

In dreadful conditions, Glentoran turned in a superb second half display with Gary Hamilton and Stephen Carson being almost unplayable. Dungannon substitute, Johnny Montgomery went close from a corner two minutes into the second period. After that though, it was virtually one-way traffic. On 49 minutes Carson broke down the left and put in a superb cross which Hamilton volleyed home. 2 minutes later Morgan denied Hamilton a second; saving with his feet. Dungannon Swifts had a couple of opportunities on the counter attack with McClean (55) and Fitzpatrick (59) both going close. In between David Howland was unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line following more great work on the left by Carson. On 66 minutes Jason Hill put Carson away on the left. His cross was turned in at the back post by substitute Andy Waterworth with his first touch of the game! Waterworth, returning today after a spell out through injury almost got another (82) but Niall Morgan denied him with a great save. A corner to the home side was cleared up field to Carson (84). He broke forward at pace, holding off the defender and drawing the keeper from his goal before his perfectly judged pass was met by another Glentoran substitute, Darren Boyce who side footed the ball into the empty net. Ciaran Martyn went close on 89 minutes but a minute later he grabbed his second of the day and Glentoran’s fifth. Again Carson was the provider; his through ball finding the big midfielder on the edge of the area and this time Martyn made no mistake. In the third minute of added time Carson (yet again) put a superb cross into the Dungannon penalty area. Ciaran Martyn almost got on the end of it and was inches away from claiming the match ball.

Glentoran: Morris, Ward, Hill, Nixon (capt), Callacher, Howland, Martyn, O’Hanlon, Carson, Gibson & Hamilton.
Subs: Waterworth for O’Hanlon (65), Clarke for Howland (81) & Boyce for Gibson (82).

Highlights from Glentoran TV to follow.

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