| Glentoran
picked up their first piece of silverware for the
season by defeating Crusader 2-1 in the County
Antrim Shield Final. The game saw the return
of Gary Hamilton and Sean Ward to the first team and
Elliott Morris also back in action.
The first half of
the game didn't bring much to excite the crowd with
both teams not finding their flow and having much of
the play broken down by some niggling fouls and free
kicks.
The first and only
shot on goal in the first half came direct from a
Crusaders corner, but Elliott Morris comfortably
tipped the on-target cross over the bar.
After ending the
first 45 minutes at 0-0, the game only got started
in the second half. Both teams restarted with
no changes and the game continued in much the same
fashion until some superb attacking play opened the
coring.
Gary Hamilton was
the key contributor to the first goal as he picked
the ball up on the left wing, dummying Crues
defender Ryan Tumilty and flosting a perfect ball
toward the back post. Michael Halliday headed
back across goal for David Scullion to hook the ball
past the goalkeeper.
At 1-0 the Glens
stepped up a gear and the game finally started to
get flowing.
Ryan Berry made it
2-0 on 70 minutes after a corner kick became loose
on the edge of the box. The low drilled shot
managed to get through a crowded box while the
goalkeeper could only watch as the ball crossed the
line.
Six minutes from
time Gary Hamilton was again at the centre of the
action when he reacted to a harsh challenge from
Crusaders' Doherty. Referee David Best, opted
to book both players in what was the most rational
decision at tat stage of the game.
The Crues pulled
one back in the last minute when Chris Morrow met a
long cross from Stephen McBride. Morrow headed
in at the back post for the consolation goal, but it
was too late for Crusaders to mount any further
attack.
The Glens victory
claims not only the first silverware of the season,
but Alan McDonald's first trophy since taking over
as manager.
|
