Glentoran Seconds made a great start to their league season at the Oval today, with a convincing win over the Swifts.
Following last week’s success in the Steel & Sons Cup, the Wee Glens were bursting to go again and get their league campaign off to a winning start. To play at the Oval, with the sun shining, just added to the occasion and the excitement.
The starting 11 had a mix of real experience, blended with some eager young talent - Willie Garret, Joe Crowe and Gael Bigirimana alongside Seamus Duffy, Aaron Wightman, Ben Cushnie, Corai Quinn, Jonny Russell and the youngest of the wee Glens, Mitchel Watterson, at just 16, on the bench.
The Glens got off to a flier with a well worked 4th minute short corner. Seamus Duffy played a one-two with Aaron Wightman before swinging the ball deep into the box. The Dungannon defence struggled to clear their lines and could only find Shay Burns who duly played the ball back into the box where Jordan Jenkins pounced and rifled the ball into the net. 1-0 Glentoran.
Unfortunately, the goal didn’t settle the early match jitters and, truth be told, both teams struggled to find their rhythm. Perhaps the heat and first game rustiness were having an impact with both sides guilty of giving away possession while trying to force the pace of play. If anything, the young Dungannon side seemed driven to make their mark and their determination was causing the Glens some concern. That said, young Kai Beck, in the Glens’ goal, was never truly bothered, dealing confidently with anything that came his way, even rushing off his line for one through ball playing the keeper / sweeper role and heading the ball clear.
Half Time: Glentoran 2nds 1 - 0 Dungannon Swifts 2nds
Goalscorers Jordan Jenkins and Ben Cushnie
Whatever Norman Kelly’s team talk was at half time it definitely did the trick as the Glens came out and played some fantastic intricate football with neat, crisp, zipped passing opening up the Dungannon defence on several occasions. Some great passages of play ensued with Bigi pulling the strings, finding Wightman, Duffy, Cushnie, Quinn and Jenkins driving into space and causing havoc amongst the Dungannon defence.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw the Glens create 5 clear cut chances, however, it wasn’t until the 61st minute whenever Bigi found Jordan Jenkins that the score was doubled. Once again young Jenkins was clinical with his finish. Similarly, in the 77th minute, some fantastic work from Seamus Duffy again found Jenkins who once again displayed predatory instinct and duly completed his hat-trick.
The Glens continued to dominate the game and in the 86th minute Ben Cushnie was rewarded for his hard graft, chasing down a lost ball, winning it back, showing some individual brilliance before calmly slotting the ball into the net.
If it wasn’t for Jordan Jenkins’ hat-trick, the man of the match award could have been given to several of the Wee Glens in a great opening game. A fantastic result and the first 3 points on the board.
Full Time: Glentoran 2nds 4 - 0 Dungannon Swifts 2nds
Glentoran Seconds: Kai Beck, Corai Quinn (captain), Shay Burns, Willie Garrett, Jonathan Russell, Gael Bigirimana, Joe Crowe, Aaron Wightman, Seamus Duffy, Ben Cushnie, Jordan Jenkins, Subs: Ben McCaul, Diarmud O'Hanlon, Rory McLaughlan, Michael Watterson, Ben Logan
