Glentoran 2nds 3 Donegal Celtic Reserves 2

b_120_0_16777215_00___images_Match-News-Graphics_donegal-celtic-h.pngA very wet Oval played host to Spike Hill's Seconds on Saturday.   With the First Team game postponed a sizeable crowd saw the Wee Glens move within a point of joint leaders Linfield Swifts and Glenavon Reserves.
A great start for the boys from the East with some neat passing ended with a free kick awarded just outside the Celtic box.   Colum Curtis floated over the set piece and Owain Beggs put the home side into the lead on 8 minutes.
From the restart the DC players were put under pressure, some neat interpassing found overlapping full back Owen Thompson in space on the right wing, his cross was a little behind John McGuigan, but somehow the midfielder twisted and sent a looping header over Logan in the DC goal; 2-0 Glens.
The East Belfast lads were in total control but were concerned when an innocuous collision resulted in Reece Shaw needing some lengthy treatment after an accidental blow to the side of the head.  An injured John McGuigan was replaced by young Kym Nelson after 22 minutes. It wasn't all one way and credit to DC who tried to play their way out from the back but Aaron Hogg was on hand to take control of anything dangerous.  The Seconds went further ahead on 36 minutes.  Matthew Johnson's  right wing run was halted unfairly and from another Colum Curtis delivery Skipper Calum Birney rose to head past a stranded Logan.
Just before the interval DC pulled one back after some neat play down their right and a sharp cross was prodded past Hogg.  A good look at Reece Shaw at half time saw him replaced by Robbie Lee Crawford two minutes into the second period as the pack had to be reshuffled again.
Aaron Hogg made a superb save and good blocks from Calum Birney and Robbie Lee Crawford kept the two goal cushion as DC pushed for a second while the Wee Glens were a little wasteful in front of goal.  Curtis had a couple of good chances and Carl McComb smashed a volley against the bar.
In what was a very open second half it was DC who scored next with a midfield strike past Hogg from 20 yards to set up a tense finish  but the Young Glens held on for all three points.
Assistant Manager Stephen Lowry said afterwards,  " We were really getting into our stride and playing some good stuff, the knock to Reece and the injury to John disjointed us a bit, both teams tried to play in difficult conditions and there were some well worked goals there."

Team:  Hogg, Thompson, Birney, Shaw, Davison, Beggs, Johnson, McGuigan, McIlveen, Curtis, McComb Subs West, Nelson, Crawford (all used)

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