Eddie Patterson named an unchanged side for today's visit to Stangmore Parkhowever both Naill Henderson and Fra McCaffrey returned to the bench following their one match suspension.
Glentoran started the game well and almost took the lead inside 2 minutes. A break down the right saw David Scullion link well with Jordan Stewart but Stewart's cross was turned behind for a corner. From the set piece Willie Garrett found Marcus Kane. Kane's shot looked destined for the top corner but Andy Coleman, in the Dungannon goal, turned it over the bar. Great save! On 4 minutes Barry Holland's ball over the top put Curtis Allen clear. He drove to the byline and fired a low ball across goal only to see it hacked off the line. A quick throw in from Holland then created a chance for Scullion but his drive was off target.
On 19 minutes Curtis Allen tried his luck from 30 yards out but was wide of the left hand post. Two minutes later he had another go from similar range, this time the ball going wide of the right upright. On 35 minutes Dungannon Swifts went in front, totally against the run of play. A slip by Johnny Addis allowed Jamie Tumelty to get to the byline and his low cross was tapped in at the back post by David McCullough. Glentoran upped their game and drew level 5 minutes from the break. Stewart set Kane free down the left. He held off the challenge of Fra Brennan and found Curtis Allen in the box. Allen controlled the ball with his right foot before firing home with his left. A minute later the Glens went in front. Jordan Stewart picked up the ball about 25 yards from goal. He teased Cameron Grieve before cutting inside and unleashing a fierce drive into the far corner of the goal giving Coleman no chance. In first half stoppage time Jamie Glackin robbed Steven Mccullough on the edge of the area but his angled drive went well over the crossbar.
A quick throw in to Allen 2 minutes into the second half saw the Glentoran striker play a neat one-two with Stewart before bringing a good save out of Andy Coleman. On 55 minutes Dungannon Swifts made it 2-all and what a goal it was! Andrew Mitchell turned on the corner of the 18 yard box and rifled an unstoppable shot past Elliott Morris and into the top corner. Marcus Kane had a chance to put the Glens in front again on 63 minutes but shot straight at Coleman. Stewart and Scullion then got behind the Swifts' defence but Stewart's cross was cut out for a corner. The ball eventually broke to Steven Gordon on the edge of the area but his shot was just over the bar. On 70 minutes Morris was relieved to see a cross-shot from David McCullough drift inches over the crossbar.
13 minutes from time another bit of magic from Jordan Stewart saw the young forward create space 25 yards from goal. The crowd were on their feet as his dipping shot sailed over the keeper but the ball crashed against the woodwork and the Swifts survived. On 83 minutes Stewart was felled on the edge of the area. He took the free kick himself and again was unlucky to see his great effort come back off the woodwork. The excellent Stewart wasn't to be denied though. 4 minutes from time his sublime cross field pass found Steven gordon in acres of space. He drove into the area before being brought dow. Penalty. Gordon took the responsibility from the spot but drove his shot off the bar. Substitute Niall Henderson was first to react and headed past Coleman to restore Glentoran's lead. In the final minute Dungannon Swifts broke dangerously down the left. The low cross into the 6-yard box was superbly blocked and then cleared by Johnny Addis. In added time Henderson put Allen away again. He got to the byline and his low cross would have given Danny McKee a tap in but for the intervention of Andy Coleman.
Photographs by Thomas Sewell.
Goals and manager reaction on BBC Sport NI HERE
Glentoran: Morris (capt), Holland, McCullough, Garrett, Addis, Gordon, Nelson, Scullion, Kane, Stewart & Allen.
Subs: Henderson for Nelson (64) and McKee for Scullion (79). Unused: Hogg, McCaffrey and Boyd.