Lisburn Distillery 0 v 2 Glentoran
Glentoran climbed to 5th place in the Danske Bank Premiership table with a comfortable 2-nil win at Lisburn Distillery and it was the Whites former striker, Andy Waterworth who was once again the man hitting the back of the net.
The first attempt on goal in the game was a speculative 30 yard effort from Artur Kopyt which flew well over Elliott Morris’s crossbar. At the other end Andy Waterworth’s shot from a narrow angle on 5 minutes forced a good save out of Lee Windrum. From the resulting corner Jimmy Callacher had a half chance but dragged his shot wide. On 12 minutes a well worked free kick saw John McGuigan put Jim O’Hanlon clear on the right. O’ Hanlon’s driven cross eluded everyone though and whistled past the far post. Skipper, Sean Ward had two attempts on goal on the quarter hour mark. The first effort was blocked by the Whites defence and the second was high and wide of the target. Two minutes later the Glens went in front. An excellent ball over the top from McGuigan put Waterworth in and as Windrum rushed from his goal, Waterworth lifted the ball over him and into the empty net from 20 yards. On 24 minutes Gary Liggett’s effort on goal was well held by Elliott Morris. Just before the half hour Glentoran doubled their lead. A quick throw in on the left found O’Hanlon and he went on a great run across the 18 yard line, avoiding numerous tackles before picking out Martin Murray. Murray’s drive back across the face of the goal was turned in at the back post by Waterworth for his 11th of the season. Jimmy Callacher fired a free kick straight at the Lisburn Distillery keeper (39) but the Whites then spurned a great chance to reduce the deficit on 41 minutes when a dangerous left wing cross found Scott Davidson in the area but he failed to test Morris.
3 minutes after the interval the excellent McGuigan put Waterworth away on the left but his cross was too close to Windrum. Jim O’Hanlon volleyed over from a Martin Murray cross (54) and then Jimmy Callacher’s close range effort from a Murray corner was saved by Lee Windrum. 15 minutes from time McAlorum, playing probably his best game for Glentoran so far, played a superb ball to substitute Stephen Carson. Carson fired a great cross into the 6-yard box but Waterworth’s bad first touch allowed Windrum to gather. Carson’s free kick 10 minutes from time was met by Murray but his effort was deflected for a corner. A minute later the hard working Murray drilled a superb ball across the box but the in rushing Howland and waterworth both just missed getting the vital touch. On 85 minutes Liggett tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort was well over the bar. In stoppage time Andy Waterworth was denied a hattrick by an outstanding save from Windrum. The chance was created by Sean Ward who beat two defenders, got to the by-line and crossed to Waterworth whose header seemed destined for the far corner but Windrum, at full stretch, turned it away.
Goals on BBC Sport NI HERE
Glentoran: Morris, Ward (capt), Hill, Magee, Callacher, McGuigan, M. Clarke, McAlorum, O’Hanlon, M. Murray & Waterworth.
Subs: Carson for O’Hanlon (67), Howland for McGuigan (71) and R. Clarke for M. Murray (87).