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Match Report

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Glentoran tonight moved to within 4 points of the top two in the Carnegie Premier League, with a confident and comprehensive home victory against Donegal Celtic.

The Glens had failed to secure all 3 points in the 3 previous top-flight contests between the two sides, but after David Scullion set the home team on their way, the result never looked in doubt. In the end, Alan McDonald would watch his team complete a comfortable 5-1 victory at The Oval. McDonald will no doubt be delighted with the result, especially given that his team was without Elliott Morris and Gary Hamilton.

David Scullion celebrated a hat-trick in his last outing against DC, and it took him just 7 minutes to pick up where he left off.

Kyle Neill had an angle shot from the edge of the box parried by the visiting goalkeeper, and Scullion was first to react. He used his first touch to lift the ball over the advancing keeper, and his second to stroke the ball home while under pressure from advancing defenders.

Scullion was looking bright and energetic, and on 10 minutes he created two half chances for Michael Halliday. Firstly, tricky footwork on the right wing gave him the opportunity to deliver a perfect cross to the feet of Halliday, but the striker's first touch allowed a defender to clear the danger. Seconds later Scullion provided a killer through-ball, which Halliday latched on to with a well timed run. Halliday got his shot away, forcing the visiting 'keeper into an excellent save.

The pressure was already building on Donegal Celtic, and Darren Boyce's pace was threatening to tear them apart at the back. On 12 minutes, Boyce would outpace the defence and square a pass to the on-rushing Kyle Neill, but the pass was just a little too heavy and Neill could only get within inches of making contact as Celtic breathed another sigh of relief.

But the dangerous Boyce would notch up his first Glens goal on 18 minutes, firing low into the net with a left footed effort after collecting a Daryl Fordyce pass.

At the mid-way point of the half, Colin Nixon would be next to threaten, as he got on the end of a Kyle Neill cross. Nixon's header looked to be heading goalward, but Kevin Duff headed the ball behind for a corner before it could cross the line.

Celtic would have their first sight of goal a few minutes later, as Glens deputy goalkeeper Michael Dougherty came for, and missed a crossed ball. It left the home goal open, but Kyle Neill was positioned well to clear the danger.

On the half hour mark, David Scullion was at it again as he picked the ball up on the half way line. After going around a defender, he played the ball central to Kyle Neill. Neill let the ball roll on through to Boyce, who hit a confident first time effort, but the goalkeeper was equal to it on this occasion.

Neill had a shot turned behind for a corner moments later, before Boyce again showed his pace to leave the visiting defenders for dead. But as he bore down on goal, Tony Heagney seemed to make contact with the rampant forward, who tumbled to the ground, but claims for a penalty were waved away.

That would be the last action of a good half for the Glens, but the relief of the visitors would be short lived, as Michael Halliday would get on the score sheet just 2 minutes into the half.

Shane McCabe, who had an influential game throughout, picked the ball up deep, and found Boyce on the right wing. Boyce delivered a perfect cross and the on-running Halliday scored into the open net.

Halliday would go close again a few minutes later, as Scullion and Fordyce created an opening. But on this occasion, his right footed shot would be turned away by Declan Browne.

On 55 minutes the game was over as a contest. Kyle Neill had been threatening throughout the game, and would notch up his goal as he got on the end of a 4-man move. Scullion got the ball rolling deep in his own half as he confidently brought the ball forward. He gave the ball to Halliday who played a beautiful left footed pass to Boyce on the right wing, who in turn found Neill at the back post, who made no mistake in getting his 3rd goal in 2 games.

Just one minute later, Donegal Celtic managed to get on the score sheet with a Paul McVeigh free-kick from 20 yards.

Michael Halliday and Daryl Boyce would each see their efforts fly just off target over the next 10 minutes, before young Peter Steele was given his Glentoran debut. The striker almost got his first sight of goal when Boyce delivered a telling cross from the left wing, but Steele was unable to get on the end of it as there was just a little too much pace on the cross.

But Steele would have a hand in the final goal of the game, as Daryl Fordyce broke through the middle and exchanged possession with the debutant, before putting the ball into the net to round off a decisive victory.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE