Goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai was the unlikely hero today as his goal helped Glentoran come from behind to grab an enthralling 2-1 victory over Cliftonville at Solitude in the Sports Direct Premiership.The home side took an early lead thanks to Joe Gormley, but Gyollai hit back before half-time and Danny Amos struck with 10 minutes remaining to complete the comeback and take all three points back to east Belfast.

The win moves Declan Devine’s men to third in the table, level on points with Portadown in second. In stormy conditions, it was Jim Magilton’s side that settled the quicker of the two sides and it was no surprise when they grabbed the opener on 29 minutes. Gormley headed home at the back post following an inviting cross by Taylor Stevens for his 15th goal of the campaign.

The Glens may have felt hard done by soon after when referee Tim Marshall judged Odhran Casey’s late challenge on David Fisher inside the area fair. However, the visitors did get a deserved equaliser in first-half injury-time in the strangest of circumstances.

Gyollai sent a long punt downfield from the edge of his own area that was misread by Odhran Casey and David Odumosu and subsequently bounced over the keeper’s head and into the net to send Glens players rushing back to celebrate with their unexpected scorer.

Half time: Cliftonville 1-1 Glentoran

The second half belonged more to Devine’s side as they exerted lots of pressure on the Cliftonville midfield and were rewarded on 78 minutes courtesy of the excellent Amos.

The wide man struck a free-kick that looked to be harmlessly heading into the grasp of Odumosu. However, the Reds keeper somehow let the ball escape his grasp and could only watch as it ran into the net, sending away fans into raptures.

Things went from bad to worse for Cliftonville when Casey saw red late on for a second bookable offence, and there was to be no way back for Magilton’s troops.It is now no defeats in four for the Glens and they will be full of confidence heading into the Boxing Day ding-dong battle with Linfield.
Photographs by PACEMAKER
Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Kane, Hvid, Sule, Connolly, Fisher, Amos, Singleton, Jenkins & Douglas.Subs: Mills, Palmer, Aouachria, Murphy, Lindsay, Russell, Farley.