Glens supporters went home a lot happier than of late as a Daire O’Connor hat trick and another double from David Fisher let the way in this demolition of bottom placed Newry City at the Bet McLean Oval.
Aaron McCarey‘s return in goal was the only change in last week’s starting like up but the crowds also welcomed the return of James Singleton to the squad, after missing our last 10 games through injury.
The game started well when after just 3 minutes, David Fisher broke through to get on the end of a long pass from Johnny Russell. The ex-Wimbledon striker made no mistake as he drove confidently past Conor Mitchell in the Newry goal, The home crowd had a sense of déjà vu though 7 minutes later as Newry equalised as Adam Salley was unchallenged as he met a long, high free kick to equalise.
Bobby Burns came to the rescue though as he scored in his fifth consecutive match, this time making a great, deep run to cheekily convert a low cross from Junior after good work by Fisher.
The Glens’ third came on 26 minutes. A long deep throw from Johnny Russell caused havoc in the Newry defence, and when Mitchell dropped the ball, Daire O’Connor was on hand to jab home his first of the day and his tenth of his debut season with Glentoran.
Nine minutes later O’Connor got a second, This time he got on the end of a Marcus Kane header from a Fisher free kick to hit home at the far post. Fisher was back in on the act inside first half injury time. This time O’Connor was the provider as Fisher turned home his low pass for his 10th goal in 7 games. What an incredible run of form for the young Englishman.
Half Time: Glentoran 5-1 Newry City
Daire O’Connor completed his hat trick 9 minutes into the half with an exquisite right footer from 20 yards after receiving the ball from Fisher. Then on 67 it was Junior’s turn as he converted a penalty after being brought down by former Northern Ireland international Ryan McGivern when he was about to shoot. By this stage Warren Feeney had introduced subs Charlie Lindsay, Josh Kelly and Shay McCartan into the act.
Newry pulled back a consolation on 82 when sub Adam Carroll latched onto a loose back pass to round Aaron McCarey and tap home into an empty net, But it was the Glens who’d complete the scoring and that came 2 minutes into injury time. After very good work on the right-hand side of the box by the impressive Kirk McLaughlin – making his first appearance after returning from loan with Institute – Shay McCartan passed to Charlie Lindsay. 19-year-old Lindsay confidently turned and his shot from 10 yards left the Newry keeper helpless and marked Lindsay’s first goal for the first team after a great scoring record through the Academy years here.
So a great performance and our highest scoring league game since April 1993 when we put the same number past Ballymena United. Champions Larne will be a sterner opposition at Inver Park on Friday, but the players will surely go into that one with their confidence well and truly boosted.
Full Time: Glentoran 8-2 Newry City
Glentoran: McCarey, Wilson, Russell, McCullough (Singleton 77), Kane(c) Sule, Burns (Lindsay 61), Clucas (Kelly 67), O’Connor, Junior (McLaughlin 77) & Fisher (McCartan 67)
Subs (Not used): Webber, Wightman
Photography by PACEMAKER
