The brave souls from both Glentoran and Glenavon who negotiated the traffic today were rewarded with one of the most dull, incident free games seen at the Bet McLean Oval in some time as these two sides played out a goalless draw that never looked like it was going to finish any other way.
Declan Devine had to reshuffle the defence with the loss of the injured Paddy McClean but was able to include Cameron Palmer in the starting lineup. Djair Parfitt had his first start on the left of the reshuffled 4-3-3 formation.
From kick off it was obvious that Glenavon had setup to defend and that Glentoran were unable to break through it. In fact the only two first half incidents of note were a 28th minute effort from James Singleton that went just over and a head injury for skipper Marcus Kane who recovered to complete the match with a bandaged head.
Half Time: Glentoran 0-0 Glenavon
After an equally uninspiring start to the second half Declan Devine made attacking substitutions on the 55th and 62nd minute with Jay Donnelly and Jordan Jenkins coming on to replace Parfitt and Dylan Connolly who were having little impact on the flanks.
The first half decent chance of the half fell to the visitors on 72 minutes when Dan Gyollai had to make a triple save at the base of his far post from a Keith Ward free kick then rebound efforts from James Doona and Jack Malone. Six minutes later Jay Donnelly cut in from the left but his on target shot was saved by Gareth Deane.
James Singleton headed wide from an Amos corner but then came the one memorable incident of the game when Ward broke through leaving the defence cold. When fans feared a sucker punch like at Ballymena, Gyollai saved our bacon with a brilliant one handed save.
So another disappointing performance and result that leaves us sixth in the table. Inability to take chances is becoming a major issue on the pitch as we approach the first Big Two game of the season at Windsor Park next Friday evening..
Full Time: Glentoran 0-0 Glenavon
Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster (Thorndike 83), Amos, Hvid, Kane (c), Sule, Singleton, Palmer, Parfitt (Donnelly 55), Connolly (Jenkins 62) and Fisher
Subs (Not used): Mills, Russell, Douglas, Lindsay
Photography by JOHNNY CALDWELL