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Match Report

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Glentoran made up some ground on league leaders Linfield today, as a dull first half at the Newry showgrounds gave way to a confident and convincing second half display, that the home team simply could not contain.

A double strike from the influential Daryl Fordyce, and a header from David Scullion completed the scoring after a second half display that could have yeilded even more joy for Alan McDonald's men as the football was free-flowing and the chances came in abundance.

But before this, fans were forced to endure a dire opening 45 minutes, with neither goalkeeper forced to make a save. David Scullion looked most likely to create anything for the Glens, as he was busy and dangerous on the wing, but upon delivering the final ball there was no one to finish off the moves. At the other end, after Michael Dougherty had replaced the injured Elliott Morris, Newry saw a header drop onto the cross bar and to safety.

Morris seemed to pick up the injury as he cleared a back-pass. The ball bobbled on the bumpy pitch just before the 'keeper swung to clear, and although he did indeed clear the danger, he seemed in a bit of discomfort after swinging and making only minimal contact.

The second half instantly had a more urgent feel and McDonald's men began to chase the game. Colin Nixon delivered a right wing cross which Gary Hamilton volleyed goalward, only to see it bounce off the head of City defender Mickey Collins, giving a relieved goalkeeper the opportunity to punch clear.

Five minutes in to the half, Scullion had again collected the ball on the right wing. He cut inside and his neat footwork left Collins behind. The defender tugged Scullion back, enabling the danger to be cleared, but referee Mark Courtney failed to spot the infringement.

But Scullion was to continue to cause trouble for the home side, and just one minute later he got on the end of a Kyle Neill corner to head home, and break the deadlock giving the Glens a one goal lead.

Glentoran began to look comfortable, but Newry showed that they may prove dangerous on the counter attack as the ball broke to Chris Morgan, who ran one-on-one with Dougherty. Dougherty stood up well and turned away Morgan's effort.

And on 55 minutes it would be 2-nil. Nixon, again in an advanced position, centred the ball to Daryl Fordyce, who fired home a low drive from 20 yards, giving the goalkeeper no chance of making the save.

McDonald's men were running the game now, completely dominating all across the pitch, and Collins had to be on hand again just a minute later to clear Hamilton's shot off the goal line.

On the hour mark, last week's hat-trick hero Hamilton was again denied a goal, as the home goalkeeper made a great save as Hamilton went one-on-one. Hamilton would again be denied a few minutes later, as his volley from the edge of the box was well turned away for a corner.

The goal of the day arrived 20 minutes into the half, and really killed the game as a contest. Shane McCabe collected the ball in typically determined fashion, and distributed it was a confidence that his supporters and fellow players are becoming accustomed to. He found Kyle Neill, playing with renewed vigor in recent weeks, who in turn played the ball to Halliday. The tireless forward found Fordyce, who outwitted the Newry defence to work space in their penalty box and slot home a delightful finish for his second of the game.

Fordyce's confidence seems to be growing each week at present, as the midfielder is developing into the influential playmaker that McDonald hoped he would become.

The game would begin to draw to a conclusion, with little action in either goalmouth until the dying minutes, when Nixon cut in from the right wing and fired a cross into the box. The cross was almost turned into his own net by a home defender, who was no doubt relieved to see it narrowly fly past the outside of the post for a corner kick.

All in all, McDonald would surely have been disappointed by the first half display, but his side showed confidence and hunger in the second half, and have shown that they are not yet out of the title race this season.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE