The Glens failed to reproduce the clinical finishing from last Saturday's game in what was a disappointing Danske Bank Premiership meeting at the Oval with Warrenpoint Town.
There was just one change to the starting line up from Saturday's fantastic showing against Carrick Rangers; Gael Bigirimana replacing Hrvoje Plum.
The first quarter of the game saw the Glens mostly in control and playing some decent football at times without really creating anything in the opposition area. Warrenpoint Town were perhaps lucky to still have 11 players on the field at this stage with Dermot McVeigh receiving a yellow card for a shocking tackle on Cricky Gallagher! On 25 minutes the Glens went close when a dangerous right wing cross from Dale Gorman was sliced wide of his own goal by Steven Ball. A second corner resulted from Gorman's initial one with Luke MCcullough getting to the ball but his blocked effort fell to Paul O'Neill who shot tamely wide.
11 minutes from the interval a slip by skipper Marcus Kane allowed Ryan Swan a shot at goal but it was a straightforward save for Dayle Coleing. The visitors had one more attempt on goal in the closing minutes of the first half but Coleing gathered Luke Gallagher's shot at the second attempt. Halftime: Glentoran 0-0 Warrenpoint Town
A couple of minutes after the break a long ball forward by Luke McCullough was flicked on by Marcus Kane and Jay Donnelly seemed favourite to win the ball before going down in the area following a clash with the 'Point keeper. Referee Boyce though awarded the free kick against Donnelly! The best chance of the game came on 50 minutes when an excellent through ball from Dale Gorman sent Paul O'Neill clear with just the keeper to beat. Andrew Coleman spread himself well though and O'Neill's shot came off the keeper's legs and went behind for a corner.O'Neill then tried to set up Robbie McDaid on the hour mark when he burst into the box and squared the ball across goal but McDaid couldn't get a decent effort on goal, the chance being blocked once again by the well organised Warrenpoint Town defence.
Midway through the second half Kealan Dillon had a chance to put 'Point in front but Dayle Coleing did well to keep his effort out. On 71 minutes Dale Gorman took a quick corner to substitute, Jamie McDonagh. McDonagh clipped the ball to the back post where Paddy McClean met it but put his header agonisingly wide of the post. 10 minutes from time a long range effort from another Glentoran substitute, Hrvoje Plum, took a deflection and looked to be going in but for a superb save from Andrew Coleman. McDonagh then set up chances for McDaid and Gorman but the Glens just couldn't find the breakthrough. In the final minute a Warrenpoint Town free kick from Dillon went wide of the post and the game ended scoreless.
Photographs by PACEMAKER
Glentoran: Coleing, Marron, McCullough, McClean, Kane (c), Gallagher, Bigirimana (Plum74), Gorman, O'Neill (McDonagh 68), J. Donnelly & McDaid