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Match Report

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Glentoran tonight cruised into the JJB Sports Irish Cup 6th Round, after brushing aside the challenge of Lisburn Distillery, albeit at the second time of asking.

For as restrictive and gritty as the first contest was, so the replay was equally free-flowing and expressive.

It was clear from the offset that Paul Kirk's men would not simply be able to employ a tactic of containment, but that if they now wished to progress further in the tournament, a more positive approach would be needed. And here-in lay their downfall.

The Glens were frustrated on Saturday as the Whites sought out a draw, but tonight's game was a different story, which enabled Alan McDonald's team to take control and never look in any danger.

Glentoran started brightly, keeping possession and building pressure on the home team's defence, but were unable to mount any real opportunities. The first real opportunity of the match would fall to Distillery's Andy Waterworth. Waterworth jumped on a hesitant moment from Sean Ward, to race one-on-one with Elliott Morris, but the 'keeper made himself big, and proved equal to the effort.

Before the 10 minute mark, Michael Halliday had the Glens' best opportunity of the tie, when he got on the end of a David Scullion cross. But the forward's header cannoned off the cross-bar, and Kyle Neill blazed the follow-up into the night sky.

Halliday and Scullion would threaten again soon-after, and Hamilton would see a curling effort skim the upright on 20 minutes, when he looked likely to open the scoring.

Just minutes later, Gary Hamilton would see a well hit volley beaten away by Matthews in the home goal, as the striker seemed to be setting his sights and the Glens pressure continued to increase.

It looked as though a goal was coming, and on 24 minutes it duly arrived, courtesy of Daryl Fordyce. Shane McCabe showed strength in the air to win the ball, and find Scullion on the wing. Scullion bamboozled Stuart Thompson at left back, before delivering a left footed cross, giving Fordyce the simple job of tapping home.

Neill would again go close, before Fordyce made Matthews pull off a spectacular save, from an equally spectacular effort. The midfielder unleashed a shot from all of 25 yards, with the outside of his right boot. The shot curled and dipped, and looked destined for the back of the net before the 'keeper somehow got his fingertips to it.

Matthews was looking sharp, and had to produce another quality save to deny Halliday, but he could do nothing to stop Fordyce from notching up his second of the match on 38 minutes. Halliday won the ball back for his team, and Fordyce took control. After exchanging possession with Hamilton, he shot home from inside the penalty box to double the score.

Glentoran had an opportunity to kill the game off before half time, but Michael Halliday scuffed his shot when well placed, and shot well wide of goal.

As the second half started, Distillery seemed to have more purpose, and Peter McCann created an opening for Waterworth, but his header was easily taken by Elliott Morris.

Normal service resumed thereafter, and Halliday was again winning the ball for his team, this time to find Hamilton. Hamilton fed the ball to Scullion, who delivered a dangerous cross which narrowly eluded a full-stretch Halliday.

On the hour mark, the game was finished as a contest. Elliott Morris plucked the ball out of the air from a Whites corner, and his quick throw-out to McCabe launched the attack. McCabe ran half the length of the field and found Scullion, who again beat Thompson, but was brought down in the box in the process. Referee Mark Courtney pointed to the penalty spot, and Colin Nixon made no mistake as he sent Matthews the wrong way.

Kyle Neill must have known he was not going to score tonight when, on 65 minutes, Matthews produced another world class save to deny Neill's effort from outside the box.

Fordyce would go close with a header, before Wayne Buchanan would pull a goal back for the Whites. His left footed effort from distance caught the Glens napping.

Scullion and Halliday would again go close with headers, and Hamilton would see a free-kick turned past the post as they played out the final minutes of the game, and the Glens booked their spot in the next round.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE