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Match Report

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After a very successful week, Glentoran crashed back down to earth today, suffering a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Ballymena United.

United have been in fine form of late, and that continued today as the Glens faded late in the game, to concede 3 goals in the final 25 minutes, after twice leading at The Oval.

The game started with a high tempo, and Sean Ward was leading from the front. The defender collected the ball in his own half, and fought his way past numerous visiting players, but his left foot shot was off target.

Ballymena signaled their intent for the day early, when their first chance fell to ex-Glenman Kevin Kelbie, but his header too was wide of the mark. Mark Picking saw a similar effort come to the same result a short time later.

Jason Hill would go close to opening the scoring, but it would be Gary Hamilton who would break the deadlock on 13 minutes. Michael Halliday had a point-blank effort well saved by Paul Murphy. Hamilton pounced on the rebound, but the keeper again beat the effort away, before Hamilton finally found the back of the net.

Just a couple of minutes later, Hamilton was again looking dangerous. Scullion had done well on the right wing, and his cross was held up strongly by Halliday. Halliday laid the ball off for Hamilton, but his left-footed effort flew just over.

It was a relatively comfortable opening period, and the Glens were settling into a pattern of play that looked likely to bring another 3 points for the home team. But on 20 minutes, Philip Carson had to be taken off as he was carrying an injury.

This seemed to disrupt the balance of the team, and allowed Ballymena to come more into the match.

Hamilton would twice go close to doubling the lead, but Ballymena were living a charmed life, and the score remained at 1-0 until the 42nd minute. United came forward, and an intelligent ball into the Glens right channel found Gareth Scates, who out-paced Colin Nixon to finished with a left footed effort into the corner.

In injury time of the first half, Dean Fitzgerald would see his first attempt at goal miss the target.

It took just 4 minutes of the second half for the Glens to regain the lead. This time, it was Kyle Neill who would get on the end of a flowing passing move, to put the home team ahead. David Scullion collected the ball on the right wing, and twice exchanged the ball with Hamilton. Hamilton eventually found Fitzgerald, who played in Kyle Neill, who made no mistake with his left footed effort.

Neill would go close again on 56 minutes with a bullet free-kick from 25 yards, that would just curl over the visitors goal.

Again the home team seemed to be settling into the game, looking comfortable and controlling the pace. But on 60 minutes, a crude and late challenge from United captain Albert Watson on Ryan Berry, saw Berry stretchered off the pitch. The incident was missed by referee David Malcolm, but would prove to be influential in the remaining time.

Rory Hamill came on to fill the central midfield position beside Fitzgerald, and was to immediately concede a free-kick, which would give Gary Haveron the chance to curl home United's second equaliser of the afternoon.

Hamilton and Leeman would see efforts go close, but Glentoran were unable to take the lead for the 3rd time in the match.

On 75 minutes, Ballymena would find themselves ahead in the match for the first time.

As they broke on the right wing, Colin Nixon backed off and allowed Stuart King to pick his shot from the edge of the box. The shot was blocked, but the ball broke for Gavin Melaugh, who made no mistake from close range.

Again the Glens battled to pull level, and Michael Halliday was unlucky to hit the crossbar on two occasions.

But as the pressure was increasing towards the end, United were gifted a dubious forth to seal the win in injury time.

As United came forward, Sean Ward stepped up the pitch to catch the loan forward in an offside position. While the United player was certainly offside, the linesman kept his flag down, and as Ward was now out of position, this allowed Kelbie to run through on goal, round Morris and finish a disappointing afternoon for the Glens in disastrous style.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE