Glentoran's penultimate fixture in what has been a dismal 2016/17 Danske Bank Premiership campaign saw already relegated Portadown make the trip to east Belfast. Two big clubs who in years gone by would have been contesting at the very top of the table, now sitting 9th and 12th in the league. Glentoran kicked things off on the front foot, and after Eric Foley (3') and Salou Jallow (13') saw long range efforts sail harmlessly over the bar, they took the lead on 18 minutes. Neat build up play from the back saw the Glens cut Portadown open and Conal Delaney fed Curtis Allen who slotted it past Jack Duffin in the City End goal.
A spell of Glentoran pressure brought a few corners in quick succession, but nothing come from them as the delivery was never quite right. However on the stroke of half time the Glens doubled their lead. Foley stepped up to take a free kick towards the touchline and 30 yards from goal. His whipped effort sailed right over the keeper and curled into the upper echelons of the goal. If it was a shot, it was sheer genius. If it was a cross, it was sheer luck! Either way a fantastic goal and in a game of few chances the home side went into the interval 2-0 ahead.
Again the Glens started on the front foot and just 3 minutes into the second half Jonny Smith's goalbound effort was blocked and spun out for a corner that came to nothing. However on 52 minutes it was 3-0; more slick passing from several Glens players found Delaney and his wonderful feint sent a Ports defender to the ground before an inch perfect through ball again fell to Allen who rolled it under the keeper for his second of the afternoon.
Seven minutes later and it could've been another goal for the east Belfast outfit. Delaney again was at the heart of it, battling hard to win the ball and link up with Allen who found Smith, but unfortunately his shot was rushed and rolled harmlessly wide. Glentoran really were in control of this game, and Foley nearly had a brace himself when his rifled effort sailed just over the bar with 25 minutes left on the clock.
The Ports were really struggling to get a foothold in the game let alone create any chances, and were fortunate not to be further behind when with 8 minutes to go the ball fell to Allen following a cross and he blazed over on the full when he really should've scored. With time running out the Glens nearly had another two goals; first James Ferrin saw his effort comfortably dealt with by Duffin before in injury time substitute Nacho Novo's attempted lob was saved by the Ports 'keeper.
A very smooth performance from the Glens then in a season that hasn't seen too many of them. Unfortunately now 4 points off Dungannon in 7th it's impossible to qualify for European competition, so a summer of hard work and transformation is sure to take place to make up for the calamity of a season that it has been. As always though, we go again next time. Forever and Ever.
Glentoran's final fixture of the season is at home to Ards next Saturday (29th) at 3pm.
All photographs by Pacemaker Press.
Glentoran: Morris, Sterling, Magee, Addis, Redman, Foley, Kane (c), Delaney, Jallow, Smith & Allen.
Subs: Novo for Smith, Ferrin for Delaney and Cafolla for Jallow.
Unused subs: D. Nelson & S. O' Flynn
