The official Glentoran FC Internet Site. - Football in Northern Ireland (Belfast)

Match Report

Photographs

Glentoran picked up a hard earned three points against a dogged and determined Armagh City, in the opening match of the Carnegie Premier League campaign at The Oval today.

But the win came at a cost, with the unfortunate Philip Simpson being stretched off with an injury with just 4 minutes left of the game.

Despite never looking like losing the match, Glentoran had to display a great deal of patience, as Armagh were determined to tighten the ship after losing by 6 goals on their last visit to East Belfast.

And it took until the 67th minute before the deadlock was broken. The goal came from perhaps the best move of the match, when Michael Halliday put Gary Hamilton through on goal.

As defenders closed in on the hit-man, Hamilton intelligently squared his pass into the path of the supporting Daryl Fordyce, who took his opportunity quickly and slid the ball under the advancing Stuard Addis in the visiting goal.

The first 5 minutes were a real indication of how the game would pan out for it's duration. Glentoran set up camp inside the Armagh half, but were unable to create any real openings before the first sight of goal actually came at the other end.

A quick break down the left wing eventually saw the centred ball fall to Terry Fitzpatrick, who blazed over from just inside the penalty box.

Glentoran pressure then began to mount even further, and Halliday thought he had broken the deadlock after finding the net on 13 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for an earlier apparent foul.

Michael Ward and Colin Nixon were unlucky not to open the scoring, with efforts going close within the next 3 minutes, before an almighty goal mouth scramble on 17 minutes somehow went by without the ball crossing the line.

A corner caused havoc in the City defence, but efforts from Halliday, Hamilton, Scullion and more could not find the net. During the scramble the cross bar was struck and two efforts were cleared off the line, but ultimately it was some stoic last-ditch defending that kept the scores level.

Halliday then produced two good saves in as many minutes from Addis. The first came after a neat one-two passing move with Scullion, and the second from a powerful header that just didnt have enough direction to beat the 'keeper.

And the last chance of the half also came to the dangerous Halliday, who shot just wide while under pressure from the defence.

After somehow having to settle with 0-0 at half-time, Glentoran needed a goal in the second half to get the season off to the start that they so desperately wanted.

Again it was Michael Halliday who was looking the most likely to provide the break through. But again he was unable to find the net with a 53 minute header that was just off target.

Armagh City were living a charmed life, and after Halliday and substitute Ryan Berry somehow failed to find the net after another goal-mouth scramble, it started to look like it might not be the Glens' day.

But on 67 minutes it was Fordyce who stepped up to score, and provide the break through that was so deserved.

Halliday had a further chance, but the inspired Addis produced another save, and Kyle Neill went close late on with an off-target header.

But the game was to end on a sour note, with the injury to Simpson.

So Glentoran got the season off to the desired winning start. But Armagh City will take heart from their gritty performance, and if they can put up a showing like this on a weekly basis, they may prove a difficult team to beat for many Irish League teams.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE

Match Mascot

Name:
Bradley McCartney

Age: 4

Favourite Players:
Elliot Morris
Gary Hamilton