A goal late in each half from Gary Hamilton, an injury doubt before the game, gave Glentoran a precious three points against League leaders Linfield at the Oval.

But while Hamilton’s goals, particularly the stunning free kick for his second, will make the newspaper headlines the performance of goalkeeper Elliott Morris played no small part in keeping Linfield at bay and securing the second win of the season against our cross town rivals.

Indeed Morris was called into action after just two minutes when he had to deal with Rory Patterson’s low drive from the edge of the area after he was set up by Mark McAllister.  On twelve minutes McAllister himself looked certain to score when he found himself free just eight yards out but a brilliant last ditch tackle from Jason Hill averted the danger.  The visitors were enjoying the majority of the possession and the only real threat from the Glens came courtesy of Linfield goalkeeper Alan Blayney.  On fifteen minutes he allowed Richard Gibson to get his head to a bouncing ball as he tried to shepherd it into his area but the Linfield defence came to his rescue, and seven minutes later he failed to gather a low ball allowing Jim O’Hanlon to get in a shot from a tight angle, but the Glens winger could only find the side netting.  From the resulting goal kick Linfield broke clear, Rory Patterson got the better of Jimmy Callacher and bore down on goal but Morris was quickly off his line to pull off a superb stop at the striker’s feet.

As the game moved into first half injury time it looked like we would go into the break scoreless but the Glens snatched the lead with their first clear cut effort on goal.  Stephen Carson broke down the left, cut inside and sent a low ball into the Linfield area.  Richard Gibson allowed the ball to run on to Gary Hamilton who nipped in front of his marker and poked the ball neatly past Blayney and into the bottom corner.

Unsurprisingly Linfield came out for the second half determined to push forward in search of the equaliser.  On fifty five minutes they were thwarted three times in quick succession, Rory Patterson and Robert Garrett having shots well blocked by a resolute Glentoran defence followed by Philip Lowry sending a header just over the bar.  Two minutes later Patterson had another shot well saved by Morris with the rebound falling kindly for Lowry, but the Linfield number eight fluffed his effort badly.  Patterson came close once again on seventy minutes when his header from a right wing free kick looked to be drifting in at the far post but once again Morris got across to claw the ball away.  There was more anxiety for the home supporters with seven minutes left as Mark McAllister broke clear into the Glentoran area but Morris was quickly out to make a superb block, picking up an injury in the process.

The Glens were trying to hit Linfield on the break through Andy Waterworth, a half time substitute for Jim O’Hanlon, on the right and Stephen Carson on the left.  With three minutes left Carson almost made the game safe when he once again cut in from the wing and sent a rasping drive just over the bar.  However the home fans saw their side home and dry with a minute left on the clock.  Gary Hamilton, who was buffeted by the Linfield centre back pairing of Albert Watson and William Murphy all evening, won a free kick thirty yards out.  Hamilton himself lined up the kick and sent in a wicked low drive which took a slight deflection off Jamie Mulgrew in the Linfield wall and flew just inside Blayney’s right hand post.

The Glens were then able to see out the five minutes of injury time in some comfort and the East Belfast faithful were able to celebrate a second Big Two win of the season, one which sees us now within four points of the top of the table.

Glentoran
Elliott Morris, Sean Ward, Colin Nixon, Jimmy Callacher, Jason Hill (sub Johnny Taylor 78 mins),  Jim O’Hanlon (sub Andy Waterworth 45 mins), David Howland, Ciaran Martyn, Stephen Carson, Gary Hamilton, Richard Gibson (sub Darren Boyce 66 mins)

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