Eric Foley’s second half header saw Glentoran finish their season with a 1-1 draw against Ards at the Oval to finish in 9th place in the Danske Bank Premiership. There were a couple of changes to the line up from last week’s victory over Portadown, goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson coming in for the injured Elliott Morris and James Ferrin replacing Jay Magee.
Ards had the better of the early exchanges with Carl McComb heading down to David McAllister whose shot was comfortably dealt with by Nelson and Craig McMillen having a shot deflected over the bar. However the Glens twice came within a whisker of taking lead the midway through the half. Jonny Smith was fouled 20 yards from goal, took the free himself and his excellent curling effort smacked the cross bar. Soon afterwards Ross Redman ventured forward during a slick passing move from the Glens which finished with him being played in by Curtis Allen but his right footed effort came back off the foot of the post with Ards goalkeeper Aaron Hogg beaten.
The Glens were to curse this bad luck on the half hour mark when Ards took the lead. McMillen swung in a corner and the home defence failed to pick up Kyle Cherry who got the slightest of touches with his head to send the ball into the corner. The visitors grew in confidence and Nelson had to be alert to hold a Cherry free kick and made an even better save just before the break, coming quickly off his line to deny McComb with his legs.
The opening of the second half was pretty much end of season stuff bar a Jonny Addis header flying just wide from a free kick whipped in by Foley. But with 73 minutes gone the game suddenly sprang into life. Some great work from debutant substitute Paul O’Neill, on for the injured Jonny Addis, set up Jonny Smith’s cross which just evaded Foley. Hogg had the ball in his arms at the edge of the box and released it to kick up field, but he had failed to spot Curtis Allen behind him. The Glentoran player of the year nicked the ball and shot towards an empty goal but Johnny Taylor got back to just about clear off the line. However from the resulting corner Smith found James Ferrin at the far post who headed back across goal and Foley headed home from close range.
Three minutes later the Glens had a golden opportunity to take the lead. A long clearance from defence was latched onto by O’Neill and as he raced into the box Hogg came off his line to make an ill-timed challenge and give away a clear cut penalty. Smith stepped up to take the kick but his effort was at a height which allowed Hogg to make a comfortable save. Both ‘keepers were again in action before the final whistle, Hogg saving well from another Foley header and Nelson was smartly off his line to deny Guillaume Keke after a great run.
So the final whistle sounded at the end of a low key affair and a disappointing season for the Glens. A big summer is ahead and the fans will await with interest to see the changes in personnel for next season which, hopefully, will see a significant improvement.
Photographs by Pacemaker Press
Glentoran
Dwayne Nelson, Tre Sterling, Jonny Addis (sub Paul O’Neill 68 mins), James Ferrin, Ross Redman, Salou Jallow, Marcus Kane, Eric Foley, Conall Delaney (sub Karl Hamill 58 mins), Jonny Smith (sub Nacho Novo 87 mins), Curtis Allen