Prior to kick off, Glentoran Chairman, Stephen Henderson, club captain, Marcus Kane and club Chaplain, Rev. David Thompson conducted an Act of Rememberance on the Oval pitch.
To use an old football cliche, it was very much a game of two halves as Glentoran faced Warrenpoint Town at the Bet McLean Oval this afternoon in the Danske Bank Premiership.
The Glens, with the benefit of a strong wind behind them, attacked the Sydenham End in the first half and went in front with just 1 minute and 20 seconds on the clock. Ben Cushnie was the architect, collecting a pass from Luke McCullough wide on the right and cutting past Jonathan Leddy. Cushnie's cross to the back post was headed home by Conor McMenamin for his 7th goal of the season. The Glens almost doubled their advantage on 6 minutes. Conor McMenamin won a corner on the left and Hrvoje Plum's wind assisted set piece almost caught out Conor Mitchell in the visitors' goal. A couple of minutes later McCullough and Cushnie linked up again. Again Cushnie delivered an excellent cross, looking to pick out Jay Donnelly on this occasion but former Glentoran defender, Gavin Peers intercepted and cleared the danger.
Glentoran were dominant and the second goal arrived just before the quarter hour mark. Hrvoje Plum's 25-yard effort was deflected behind by Gavin Peers. Plum took the corner and although Peers again got his head to the ball, it fell to Patrick McClean. Glentoran's stand in skipper chipped the ball over Alan O'Sullivan and drove the ball home from 12 yards out. On 28 minutes there was another chance for Conor McMenamin from another Glentoran corner. His initial shot was blocked but the ball returned to him and his cross was headed just over by Jay Donnelly.
Excellent link up play between Cushnie and Plum created an opportunity for Robbie McDaid but his shot was blocked. McDaid had another chance following great pressing by Glentoran in the final third. Plum won the ball back and set up McDaid bu he dragged his shot wide of the far post. 5 minutes from the interval the Glens were awarded a free kick out on the left, midway inside the Warrenpoint Town half following a very poor tackle on Conor McMenamin. Hrvoje Plum delivered a great ball into the danger area and McMenamin got on the end of it but volleyed over the crossbar. Right on halftime Jay Donnelly cut in from the left but saw his powerful drive turned behind by the Point keeper. The final opprtunity of the half fell to Hrvoje Plum but his effort from a really narrow angle fizzed across goal.
Halftime: Glentoran 2-0 Warrenpoint Town
The second half was a very scrappy affair. Warrenpoint Town with the wind advantage looked to get back into the contest but it was the Glens who had the first chance, a through ball putting Robbie McDaid away but the Glentoran number 11 lost his footing in the penalty area and the visitors were able to clear. On 56 minutes Alan O'Sullivan picked the ball up near the halfway line and drove forward before firing a 30-yard shot well wide.
Midway through the half though the South Down side pulled a goal back. A long throw in from Colm Deasy was spilled by Aaron McCarey and Tom Maguire pounced to fire the ball home. Warrenpoint Town had a chance to equalise on 73 minutes but O'Sullivan fired over when well placed. Glentoran were struggling to produce anything up front and too many times as the defence and midfield cleared the ball forward the Glentoran strikers were caught offside, allowing the visitors to regain possession and chase an equaliser. On 75 minutes there was almost a chance for the home side as Robbie McDaid's excellent pass looked to have set Jay Donnelly clear but the Point keeper, Conor Mitchell was quickly out to clear the ball into the stand.
With 9 minutes remaining the visitors won a corner on the left. The ball was swung into the 6-yard box, eluding both defenders and attackers before falling to substitute Greg Moorhouse but his tame effort was into the side netting. In stoppage time Glentoran won a free kick down near the corner flag at the City End. Normally it wouldn't be ideal to try to keep the ball in the corner at home to the team sitting bottom of the table but it was very much a case of needs must. The Glens backline managed to repel any of the Warrenpoint Town threat as the game played out. Although the second half performance wasn't anyway near as good as the first, the important thing was winning the 3 points and keeping in touch with the teams just above us in the table.
Photographs by PACEMAKER
Glentoran: McCarey, Marshall, Marron, McClean (c), Burns, McCullough, Plum (Clucas 68), Cushnie (Smith 68), McMenamin, J. Donnelly & McDaid.
Luke McCullough receives his Man of the Match Award from today;s match sponsor, Darren Matin, owner of Nicdar Tiles Ltd