Match Report

It seemed as though the game would play out from here with a second goal on the cards, however Coleraine struck back from the penalty spot after Jamie McGovern was penalised for holding John Watt in the area.

The equaliser put more spice into the game forcing both teams to go for the win, but the difference once again was Gary Hamilton. The top scorer Hamilton found himself on the end of a Jamie McGovern cross to head home for the Glen and sealing the victory and another vital 3 points.

After Saturday's disappointment in the Irish Cup, it was import and that Alan McDonald's men bounced back to form in the league, and three points from this game was vital to keep up the title challenge.

And the first chance of the game came early, when Hamilton's dangerous corner was cleared only as far as Shane McCabe, who drilled a stinging volley just wide of target.

The Glens were holding the ball well, moving it quickly and involving players all over the pitch as the team looked to resume their recent run of good form. Daryl Fordyce and, in particular, Shane McCabe hardly put a foot wrong, and were keen to stamp their authority on the match.

After bossing the opening period but not creating much in the goal mouth, Michael Halliday rose highest to get on the end of a David Scullion cross on 10 minutes, but could only head straight at the visiting goalkeeper.

Wing play looked like being the Glens best way through the Coleraine back-line, and a short time later Sean Ward set Kyle Neill away on the left wing. His dangerous cross was between the goalkeeper and defense, but was also just too far from the on-rushing Hamilton who was unable to get the crucial touch.

The Glens were settling into a confident pattern of play, and would soon cut right through the heart of Coleraine. Fordyce started the move and found Scullion on the wing. After good work from the winger, he found Colin Nixon who delivered the cross to Halliday. Halliday played the ball on to Hamilton, and his effort was turned behind from a corner. From that corner, Halliday had a good headed effort that was unfortunately blocked by Nixon.

Midway through the half, the visitors had their first sight of goal when a through-ball put Carson through on goal. The returning Elliott Morris was quick to react, closing the angles and producing a fine save.

As the game moved towards the break, Coleraine would see a header fly off target, while Scullion and Hamilton saw their shots off target and straight at the goalkeeper respectively.

The second half started in similar vein to the first, but this time it was Neill who saw his 20 yard effort just off target.

Neill was increasingly involved in the game, and just 5 minutes later he would have a penalty claim waved away as he was clattered from behind while trying to latch on to a cross that was spilled by the goalkeeper.

Just seconds later, Coleraine showed that the Glens could be punished if they failed to capitalise on their dominance. Hesitation from Jamie McGovern at he back allowed John Watt to race through on goal, but when well placed his side foot shot went wide.

11 minutes into the half, David Scullion was on hand to clean up the scraps of another neat Glens move, to give the home team an important lead.

Hamilton had played Halliday into a good position, and the latter attempted an audacious lob of the goalkeeper. The effort came back of the post, and Scullion was there to finish into the empty net, to notch up his 9th goal since joining from Dungannon in pre-season.

Coleraine looked disjointed after the set back, and McDonald's men began to exert their authority on the match. Growing in confidence, the passing was neat and crisp, and the movement off the ball ensured that Coleraine were having to work very hard.

The pressure looked to be leading to another goal, as Neill again tested the keeper, and Scullion had a header turned behind before Fordyce attempted to score the goal of the season. When he picked up possession wide on the right wing, and with the ball on his right foot, most players would likely have attempted a cross. But the confident midfield man swung a dipping shot goalward, which was tipped away by the keeper, although referee David Best gave a goal-kick.

The best move of the game came at the halfway point of the half. Morris gathered the ball after a Coleraine break, and quickly found Scullion on the right side. The winger played an intelligent pass to the marauding McCabe, who collected possession and raced 40 yards down the wing. His cross was toward Hamilton, who showed fantastic control to tee the ball up for Fordyce, but the final effort was rushed and flew over the crossbar.

Glentoran looked like a team with no shortage of confidence and self belief, and it looked like just matter of time before another goal came.

Scullion went close to finding that second goal when he collected a pass from Halliday, who had excellently brought down a long ball played from his own half. Scullion curled a dipping shot across the 'keeper, but the ball just didn't come down quickly enough, and dropped just over the bar.

Alan McDonald is experienced enough to know that, at times like these, it is vital to capitalise on an advantage and seal a victory. Otherwise, a sucker-punch can ruin a whole game of dominance. With 17 minutes left, it looked as if that sucker-punch had arrived.

In a crowded penalty box, McGovern was penalised for pulling down Watt, and McVey stepped up to slot home the penalty, although Morris did manage to get a hand on the ball.

If Glentoran had been dominant before the equaliser, they now became uncontainable, with McCabe, Scullion and Fordyce in particular hauling the team towards the finish line.

Fighting for every ball, there was an increased vigor about the play, and the tempo was most certainly raised. Now, the team simply had to score a second, not just hope that it would arrive.

Coleraine were starting to defend desperately, but Glentoran were not to be denied, and on 79 minutes Hamilton would strike to claim 3 points for the home team.

Fittingly, the move was started by the ever-impressive McCabe, who found his former Dungannon colleague Scullion. After a quite start to the game, Scullion's influence was now pivotal, and he played the ball on to Halliday, who laid it to McGovern. After steadying himself, McGovern delivered a dangerous cross and Hamilton was on hand to nod home.

Scullion himself would have the final chance of the game, when Neill and Jason Hill combined on the left wing to provide service to the middle. But Scullion was unable to get his second of the game, as his header was off target.

There points was nothing less than McDonald's men deserved on the night, but will need to be more clinical in front of goal in the final 7 games of the campaign if they are to close the gap on the league leaders.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE