The Glens players showed tremendous character to win this one against a strong Carrick side, our third very competitive game in six days.
Declan Devine made four changes to the starting line up as injuries sustained in the Coleraine game ruled out Cameron Palmer, Josh Kelly and Jay Donnelly. They were replaced respectively by Marcus Kane, Johnny Russell for his first start after recovering from a close season injury and David Fisher. Eighteen-year-old James Douglas was given his first start after an impressive half against Coleraine with Charlie Lindsay on the bench.
In a real end to end first twenty minutes Glentoran had the better of the clear-cut chances as Frankie Hvid headed just wide from a corner, Jordan Jenkins had a penalty claim waved away, David Fisher missed after a great Dylan Connolly run and pass and had a dangerous shot across the goal go out for a corner. Paddy McClean had a great long range shot very well saved by his former teammate Ross Glendinning and James Douglas had a decent shot saved after great work by Kane and Jenkins.
On 22 minutes Carrick took the lead in controversial circumstances when they were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Marcus Kane on the very tricky Paul Heatley. It was a foul but photographs demonstrated it occurred just outside the Glens penalty box. So with a second controversial penalty decision in two games given against the Glens Danny Gibson stepped forward to convert
The last five minutes of the half were highly eventful. First the Glens equalised when David Fisher calmly finished after a Frankie Hvid run and shot. Then Carrick full back Kurtis Forsythe received a second yellow card for two very similar fouls on a marauding Johnny Russell.
The half ended with Glentoran taking the lead. This time the roles were reversed as Hvid got his first for the club after a lob into the box by Kane.
Half Time: Carrick 1-2 Glentoran
The second half started in a similar frenetic manner as the first and after thirteen minutes of the half Carrick equalised. It came not surprisingly from Paul Heatley. The ex-Crusaders playmaker latched onto a long ball out of defence and held off Paddy McClean to shoot past Daniel Gyollai. The sort of goal we’ve seen Heatley score many times over the past decade.
The Glens pushed relentlessly for a winner with a number of efforts either off target or saved by Glendinning.
Declan Devine introduced both Nial McGinn and Wassim Aouachria in an attempt to bolster the frontline and on 77 minutes it paid off as Fisher rose to head home from a cross by James Douglas. As with last week’s late winner at Portadown there were scenes of both joy and relief as the Glens players and fans celebrated the goal together.
So another good away win for the Glens and ultimately a well-deserved one for the players’ show of determination and resilience throughout.
Full Time: Carrick 2-3 Glentoran
Glentoran: Gyollai, Singleton, Russell (McGinn 64), Hvid, McClean, Kane (c ), Sule, Douglas, Connolly, Fisher, Jenkins (Wassim 74).
Subs (Not used): Mills, Farley, Murphy, Boyd, Lindsay.
Photography by ADAM HARWOOD and PACEMAKER