It was back to the future again as Roy Coyle stepped into the manager's role at Glentoran for today's trip to face basement side Warrenpoint Town.
Coyle made just one change to the starting line up with Steven Gordon moving from midfield to right back and Conor McMenamin starting in place of George Gray. The formation though was 4-4-2 with McMenamin joining Curtis Allen up front.
Glentoran had much the better of the first 45 mnutes, playing with a strong breeze behind them. In the first quarter of an hour they created 2 good opportunities with Curtis Allen just failing to get his head on a cross from the right delivered by Fra McCaffrey and then a great through ball from Jonny Addis picked out Conor McMenamin on the left corner of the 18 yard box but the young striker's shot was blocked. Marcus Kane conceded a free kick near the corner flag on 14 minutes. the ball was drilled into the danger area but Daniel Hughes was unable to direct his header goalwards. Allen then found McMenamin who side stepped a defender before playing the ball to David Scullion. Scullion's shot from the edge of the penalty area lacked power though and was easily dealt with by the 'Point keeper, Aaron Shanahan. Steven Gordon, David Scullion and Conor McMenamin then combined well down the right. McMenamin's low, dangerous cross was cut out for a corner though before it could reach Allen. On 24 minutes Glentoran finally looked to have taken a deserved lead. Roy Kierans was yellow carded for a foul on Gordon near the right corner of the penalty area. Scullion's free kick was headed in at the far post by Curtis allen but the goal was disallowed when the linesman raised his flag for offside. The television replays suggest it was a harsh decision! 5 minutes later the Glens had another free kick in a similar position. Scullion went for goal this time but his effort was well held by Shanahan. Just after the half hour mark another excellent pass from Addis found Allen in the box but the striker's first time effort went well over the bar. On 36 minutes Glentoran were forced into a change when Jonny Smith came on for Fra McCaffrey; the latter having picked up a back injury. 6 minutes from the interval Addis found McMenamin and he picked out Allen on the edge of the area. Allen's shot on goal was deflected but forced a good save out of Shanahan. right on half time Warrenpoint Town almost grabbed a shock lead. A deep cross from the right was met on the volley by Stephen Murray but his effort hit the side netting.
The home side improved after the break and on 50 minutes Barry Holland, making his 50th appearance for the club, did well to cut out a dangerous cross from Daniel Hughes. From the resulting corner Dermott McVeigh had a free header at goal but failed to trouble Elliott Morris. A minute later Morris was called into action though, denying Stephen Hughes with a great stop. Glentoran's first chance of the second half came when the impressive Smith crossed from the right. The ball found David Scullion but he couldn't direct his header on target. On 61 minutes Jonny Smith broke from midfield, skipping past a couple of defenders before finding McMenamin in space. McMenamin's effort was on target but again Shanahan was equal to it. Midway through the half a foul on McMenamin near the left corner of the 18 yard box resulted in another free kick to the Glens. Smith curled the ball into the danger area but nobody was able to apply the decisive touch. A minute later a dipping shot from distance from Mark Hughes almost gave the home side the lead but his shot went just wide of the post. There was another moment of controversy on 72 minutes. Smith won possession in midfield and found McMenamin. His through ball for Scullion saw the Glens number 7 break into the area and as he tried to go round the keeper he was challenged by both the keeper and a defender. Scullion went to ground but referee Crangle, having initially ran towards the penalty spot, decided to book Scullion for simulation, a decision which unsurprisingly angered the Glentoran player! 15 minutes from time Allen should have put the Glens in front but his header from McMenamin's excellent cross, went straight at the 'Point keeper. On 79 minutes a snap shot from Daniel Hughes went well over the crossbar but 6 minutes later the home side's centre forward looked to have broken the deadlock when his effort, destined for the top corner, was superbly tipped over by Elliott Morris. 3 minutes from time Morris produced another top drawer save, this time to deny Mark Hughes. In the final minute the Glens were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal follow a foul on Conor McMenamin. Stephen McAlorum took the set piece and brought an outstanding save out of Aaron Shanahan. In the final minute of the 4 added on by referee Crangle, Glentoran forced a corner on the left. Jonny Smith swung the ball into the 6 yard box and substitute, Jim O'Hanlon, who had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes, powered a header past Shanahan from about 4 yards out. It was harsh on the home side but Glentoran were delighted to claim maximum points and climb above Portadown into 6th place in the Danske Bank Premiership table.
Glentoran: Morris, Gordon, Kane, Garrett, Holland, Scullion, McCaffrey, Addis, McAlorum (capt), Allen & McMenamin.
Subs: Smith for McCaffrey (36) and O'Hanlon for Addis (89). Unused subs: Hogg, McCullough and Gibson.