Glentoran were denied a deserved share of the points by Aaron Reid’s late goal as Crusaders secured a 2-1 victory at the BetMcLean Oval.

The Glens created several opportunities during a dominant first-half display but fell behind when Owen Wardell struck two minutes before the interval.

Ben Gallagher deservedly brought Declan Devine’s side level in the 68th minute, only for Reid to claim all three points for the visitors with two minutes remaining.

Devine made three changes to the side which defeated Ballymena United, with Jonathan Douglas, Gallagher and new signing Ethan Schilte-Brown coming into the starting XI.

Schilte-Brown made his Glentoran debut following his season-long loan move from Kilmarnock, while Jordan Jenkins and Joe Thomson were named among the substitutes.

The Glens started brightly and threatened inside the opening two minutes. Josh Daniels met a long diagonal ball and headed it back across goal, but Gallagher sent his effort narrowly wide.

Daniels caused further problems when his excellent delivery from the left picked out Ryan Cooney’s run into the area. The defender stretched to make contact but was unable to turn the ball towards goal.

Glentoran went even closer midway through the first half when Josh Kelly’s looping cross from the right struck the underside of the crossbar.

Gallagher then looked certain to open the scoring after finding space six yards out, but Graham Kelly produced an excellent sliding clearance on the line to deny him.

Crusaders offered a warning when Wardell broke clear, although the forward was unable to direct his effort on target.

Ross Clarke was presented with another opportunity for the Glens shortly afterwards, but he could not steer his close-range header towards goal.

Despite Glentoran creating the better chances, Crusaders took the lead in the 43rd minute. Elliott Dunlop advanced down the left before delivering a low cross to the back post, where Wardell converted from close range.

The Glens continued to push for an equaliser after the restart, with Devine introducing Thomson from the bench.

The substitute helped create the leveller in the 68th minute, releasing Cooney on the right. His inviting cross found Gallagher at the back post and the forward powered his header beyond Sean Callister.

Glentoran carried the greater threat after drawing level as they searched for a second goal, but Crusaders remained dangerous on the counterattack.

The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute when Reid reacted quickest inside the Glentoran area and found the net from a difficult angle to restore the visitors’ advantage.

The Glens were unable to find another response during the closing stages as Crusaders held on to claim all three points.

Glentoran 1–2 Crusaders

Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Schilte-Brown, Kane (Larmour), Singleton, Kelly, McEneff, Douglas, Clarke (Jenkins), Daniels (Thomson), Gallagher (Wetherup).

Substitutes: Mills, Sule, Faloona.