Sat 19 Sep 2026, 18:42
Jordan Jenkins came off the bench to secure a huge victory for Glentoran against Cliftonville at Solitude.
The substitute struck with seven minutes remaining to earn all three points from an entertaining encounter.
Jack Malone, who was later sent off, headed the Glens in front after 15 minutes before Dean McMaster equalised with a superb free-kick in the 33rd minute.
The second half developed into an end-to-end contest before Jenkins grabbed the decisive goal to secure Glentoran’s fourth victory of the season.
Glentoran made three changes to the side which lost narrowly in midweek, with Andrew Mills returning in goal and Ethan Brown and Ben Gallagher also handed starts.
Conor McMenamin and James Singleton missed out, while Billy Crellin was named among the substitutes.
Mills was called into action inside the opening minute, tipping a defensive header over his crossbar following a Ben Quinn free-kick.
At the other end, PJ Morrison got down well to palm away an effort from Gallagher before the visitors moved in front after 15 minutes.
Ross Clarke collected the loose ball following a poor defensive clearance and delivered an inviting cross for Malone to head home at the back post.
Mills produced another important intervention before the half-hour mark, blocking from Liam McStravick after the Cliftonville forward had been sent clear on goal.
There was little the Glentoran goalkeeper could do to prevent the hosts drawing level in the 33rd minute, however, as McMaster curled a superb free-kick into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Glentoran appealed for a penalty early in the second half when Clarke went down while attempting to meet Stewart’s cross, but the referee waved play on.
Clarke was then denied by Conlan following another Stewart delivery, before Mills had to remain alert at the opposite end to thwart both Ronan Hale and Quinn.
The hosts went close to taking the lead in the 64th minute when Shaun Leppard sent a volley over the crossbar, before Rhyss Campbell headed another opportunity over.
Glentoran responded, with Morrison producing an excellent save to deny Clarke in the 73rd minute.
The decisive moment arrived with seven minutes remaining. Cliftonville failed to clear a Glentoran corner and Jenkins reacted quickest, firing home from close range to restore the visitors’ advantage.
The Glens were forced to dig deep during the closing stages after Malone received a second yellow card for a challenge on Hale in the 87th minute.
They held firm under late pressure to secure a hard-earned and significant victory at Solitude.
Cliftonville 1–2 Glentoran
Starting XI: Mills, Cooney, Kane, Clarke, Stewart, Sloggett (Kelly), Brown, Gallagher (Jenkins), Larmour, Malone, Douglas.
Substitutes: Crellin, Daniels, Weatherup, Faloona, Rogers-Duffy.
