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Match Report

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Glentoran followed up Boxing Day's fine display against Linfield today, claiming all 3 points against Portadown at Shamrock Park, for the first time in 6 years.

Goals from Jason Hill and Gary Hamilton did the damage, as Oval old-boy Andy Smith saw red in a moment of madness, and was given his marching orders by the referee in the first half.

The result means that the Glens now sit just 1 point behind Cliftonville, and 2 behind the Blues at the head of the table, as the title race looks like heating up in the new year.

The game got of to a pacey start, and within 4 minutes Michael Halliday, the Boxing Day goalscoring hero, had his first sight of goal. Nixon had played him in, and Halliday took a touch to evade the defensive challenge, but was unable to find the net as Miskelly in the Portadown goal proved equal to the effort.

Before the half-hour mark, Glentoran would go close on a number of other occasions, most notably as young Philip Carson stung the goalkeepers hands with a blistering drive from over 20 yards.

But it was Hamilton who looked like opening the scoring mid-way through the half. He showed strength and determination to muscle his way through the defence, and around the goalkeeper, but from a narrow angle his shot cannoned off a post.

At the other end, Kevin Braniff was causing difficulties for Leeman, Ward, Nixon and Hill, as the busy forward was looking sharp. He was unlucky not to hit the target with his first effort, which flew just over the bar, and Elliott Morris had to be at his best to stop him from opening the scoring as he bore down on goal, one-on-one.

But it was a moment of madness from his strike partner that tipped the balance towards the Glens, in what had, until then, been an open and exciting match.

Smith took a heavy challenge from Glens' skipper, Leeman, who was recieved a yellow card for his actions. But Smith's response bemused most people in the ground, as he reacted violently towards Leeman, and Colin Nixon. The referee was left with little choice but to eject Smith from the game.

From then on, Portadown seemed content to play for a draw, and Ronnie McFall's men set their stall out to achieve that.

With their defensive unit of 4 defenders and 4 midfielders working hard, and Braniff continuing to cause mischief up-front, it was clear that Glentoran would have a fight on their hands if they were to take 3 points and build on Boxing Day's momentum.

As the start of the second half, Michael Halliday had a diving headed effort fly off target, as the Glens began to press for the break through.

Heavy challenges began flying in from the home team, as the temperature began to rise and the game became a real battle of wills. Glentoran persevered against a dogged and organised Ports team, and Scullion would have a goal-bound effort cleared well, before the breakthrough finally arrived on 71 minutes.

Daryl Fordyce shot from distance, but the effort cannoned off a defender and landed at the feet of Jason Hill. Hill had a simple chance, which he was not about to waste, and he slotted home the opening goal.

Philip Carson and David Scullion would go close for the Glens towards the end, but the important second goal still proved illusive.

With 7 minutes left, Fordyce was on the receiving end of a late challenge that left the midfielder writhing on the floor, and he had to be stretchered off.

Deep into injury time, Portadown had a final chance to steal a point from the game, when Peter Kennedy got on the end of a dangerous cross, but Nixon turned the ball behind for a corner.

Miskelly came forward for the set-piece, but it was his opposite number who claimed the ball. Morris then cleared long into the Portadown half, and Gary Hamilton easily out-paced the home defenders to knock the ball into the empty goal, to seal an important win for Alan McDonald's team.

Courtesy of
Russell Pritchard/
PRESSEYE