Two defensive errors and continued lack of presence in attack came together tonight to ensure the Glens’ miserable run of results at Inver Park continued.
Marcus Kane and James Douglas both returned to the starting line-up with Kodi Lyons-Foster and Jordan Jenkins on the bench.
The first half was a pretty uneventful one with few chances created at either end. The best of the chances came to the Glens who also had the better of the play in the half. After 37 minutes Dylan Connolly shot over the bar after being put through by a great ball from Douglas. Then a minute into added time Frankie Hvid had the best chance of the half. A typically penetrating corner from Danny Amos glanced off a defender’s head to Hvid, but the young defender headed over when the goal was gaping. A goal at this stage would have been reflective of the flow of the game.
To make matters worse Larne moved forward quickly from the goal kick. The ball found its way to the dangerous Andy Ryan just inside the right-hand side of the Glentoran box. Inexplicably Frankie Hvid went to ground on Ryan and a penalty was awarded which Ryan converted .
Half Time: Larne 1-0 Glentoran
The game died as a contest six minutes after the restart and again the goal was avoidable. The Glens cheaply lost possession on the right side of the half way line. A speculative ball forward was misjudged in the air by Paddy McLean, leaving the way clear for former Glens U21 player Matty Lusty to break through and cleanly finish past Daniel Gyollai in the Glens goal. Unlucky for McClean who has had a super start to the season, but a body blow to Glentoran. More or less immediately Declan Devine introduced new signing Djair Parfitt for his debut following his signing this week.
Almost immediately Lusty was through again. This time McClean blocked his run but he found Ryan who was foiled by a superb save by Gyollai.
There were still chances for the Glens as Marcus Kane shot over from an Amos corner, David Fisher headed wide, as did Jay Donnelly from an Amos corner that deserved better. Also Jay was sent away on the flank after good work by Sule and Parfitt but his ball into the Larne box didn’t clear the defence. But it took two more great saves from Gyollai and a superb goal line clearance from McClean to keep the scoreline down.
So a disappointing result and a frustrating performance. But consistency was always going to be a rarity in this year of complete rebuild. Next up we entertain Glenavon on Saturday September 28th.
Full Time: Larne 2-0 Glentoran
Glentoran: Gyollai, Kane (c) (Russell 90), Amos, Hvid, McClean, Sule Singleton, Douglas (Parfitt 53), Connolly (Jenkins 73), Fisher and Donnelly
Subs (Not used): Mills, Lyons-Foster, Lindsay, Thorndike
