| Glentoran moved joint top of the Carnegie Premier League today, after claiming a comfortable victory over Lisburn Distillery, the Glens' 4th win over the Whites this term.
A Paul Leeman headed goal, and a Michael Ferguson own goal put the visitors in pole position, before Distillery pulled one back after a soft penalty was awarded by Mark Courtney.
It was a top of the table clash, as the New Grosvenor side topped the league in the morning, but they would fall 3 places by full-time, after being out classed for much of the 90 minutes.
Glentoran stormed out of the starting blocks and were threatening the home defence early. Colin Nixon was first to try his luck, with an ambitious 20 yard left footed effort going wide.
Gary Hamilton went close for the first time of the afternoon, after his dipping free-kick forced a good save from the home 'keeper.
But the Whites' rearguard was breached on 6 minutes. A dangerous Kyle Neill corner, the first of many this afternoon, found the marauding Paul Leeman who sent his bullet-header past the goalkeeper and into the net.
Distillery had a half chance a few moments later, when
Nathan McConnell headed over from 10 yards out. And it was
McConnell who had the home side's best opportunity of the first half on 14 minutes. He beat the Glens' offside trap and raced through on goal, but Michael Dougherty was alert and produced a good save to preserve the lead.
Just moments later, Dean Fitzgerald saw an effort go wide of the post when well placed, before Michael Halliday saw his best chance of the day brilliantly palmed away by Matthews.
Halliday's close range volley was hit sweetly, but Matthews was somehow equal to it.
And it was Halliday and Fitzgerald who combined well on 22 minutes to creat an opening for the former, but Matthews again managed to snuff out the danger.
Some last ditch Distillery defending kept the score down 5 minutes later.
Hamilton curled in a teasing cross towards Michael Ward, but a vital defensive touch took the ball off the head of the well-placed forward.
A Nixon header and Hamilton right-footed effort flew just over before the first controversial call of the afternoon on 37 minutes.
Hamilton broke free to go one-on-one with the home goalkeeper. Hamilton was hauled to the ground, an incident that looked like a
blatant foul. But Courtney and his assistant waved away the Northern Ireland international's appeals for a penalty, much to the striker's bemusement.
Not to be deterred, Hamilton almost broke the cross bar just minutes later with a vicious shot that had the goalkeeper well beaten.
And he was involved again before the half time whistle. Michael Halliday did really well on the right wing to beat two defenders and cross to his strike partner. Hamilton laid the ball off for Fordyce, but good defending saw off the danger.
The final action of the half saw David Scullion head over from another dangerous Neill corner.
The second half was more of the same, with the Glens looking sharp in possession, and working hard to regain the ball when they did lose it.
And the first chance of the half saw Hamilton head just over, after he had worked a good move with Halliday, Fitzgerald and Scullion.
The second goal finally came on 63 minutes.
Halliday and Hamilton's neat play sent Scullion away on the left wing. His tantalizing cross was heading straight to Michael Ward at the back post.
Former Glenman Michael Ferguson had to do something to cut out the cross, and in his effort to clear the danger, was unfortunate to see the ball finish in his own net.
Just 6 minutes later, Courtney was creating controversy again when he gave a dubious penalty to the home side. Andrew Waterworth tumbled in the box, seemingly before Kyle Neill put in his challenge, but the referee did not
hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Waterworth stepped up to convert the penalty.
The Glens almost had the perfect reply to this, with Scullion forcing another save from Matthews just moments later.
Glentoran managed to maintain control of the remaining time, but didn't create any clear opportunities until the dying seconds.
Scullion again did well on the left, and his low cross was left by Hamilton, who was cut down in the penalty box by a late defensive challenge.
The referee again waved away the loud shouts for a penalty, as Halliday saw his effort roll wide of goal
among the mayhem.
In the end, the score line flattered the home team, and Alan McDonald will be pleased with this response after dropping points last week.
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