Glentoran slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Linfield in Saturday’s evening’s Irish Premiership clash at the Clearer Twist National Stadium.

The Glens had the better of the chances in a tense encounter before Matthew Fitzpatrick’s close-range finish put the Blues ahead on the hour mark.

The visitors pushed to get back into the game but couldn’t find an equaliser as they suffered a first league defeat in five games.

Boss Declan Devine made seven changes to the side which knocked Drumaness Mills out of the Irish Cup in midweek.

Goalkeeper Andrew Mills returned to the starting eleven alongside Ryan Cooney, Jordan Stewart, Aaron McEneff, captain James Singleton, Jarlath O’Rourke and Ross Clarke.

The Glens had a strong early shout for a penalty waved by referee Steven Gregg after Jordan Jenkins went down in the box under a challenge by Darragh Leahy.

Danny Amos then went close with an effort after a marauding run forward before the fullback drilled a shot narrowly wide of the target with 17 minutes on the clock.

As we moved past the half hour the impressive Clarke carved out the best opening of the game but neither Jordan Stewart or Jenkins were able to apply to finishing touch in front of goal.

As we approached half-time Clarke teed up McEneff but the forward scooped his effort over the bar from 12 yards.

Glentoran continued to press for the opener at the start of the second half with McEneff off target with another effort from outside the box.

With 60 minutes on the clock the Glens were hit with a sucker-punch as Fitzpatrick finished from close range from Ethan McGee’s long throw.

Eight minutes later Chris Johns produced an excellent save to deny Jenkins an equaliser after the forward had been played in by Clarke.

Fitzpatrick went close to a second on 73 minutes as he beat Mills to Kirk Millar’s cross, but his header went over the bar.

The Glens continued to push for an equaliser as we moved towards the closing stages with Josh Daniels trying his luck with an overhead kick which failed to trouble Johns in the home goal.

Try as they might the visitors couldn’t carve out a clear goal-scoring opportunity as the hosts held on for the win.

Linfield 1 – 0 Glentoran

Starting XI: Mills, Cooney, Palmer, Stewart (Daniels), Larmour, Amos (Gallagher), O’Rourke, Singleton (c), Jenkins, Clarke, McEneff.

Subs: Beimers, Kane, Connolly, Burt, Douglas,