Tue 15 Sep 2026, 22:37
Glentoran suffered late heartache as substitute Lewis McGregor struck a 94th-minute winner to secure all three points for Coleraine at the BetMcLean Oval.
Jordan Jenkins appeared to have earned the Glens a point in their first game since Declan Devine’s departure when he cancelled out Joe Thomson’s opener with seven minutes remaining.
However, it was the Bannsiders who were celebrating in stoppage time after McGregor swept home the decisive goal.
Tim McCann and Paddy McCourt, who have assumed First Team duties, made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Bangor.
Gregg Sloggett, Daniel Larmour and James Douglas, all second-half substitutes on Saturday, were handed starts in place of Ethan Brown, Ben Gallagher and Zeno Rossi, who had not recovered from a knock sustained against the Seasiders.
Conor McMenamin was the first to threaten for Glentoran, latching onto a clearance from a corner before sending a volley over the crossbar.
Billy Crellin then did well to palm away Matthew Shevlin’s effort after the Coleraine striker raced onto Ben Doherty’s pass.
Joel Cooper volleyed narrowly over for the visitors following good work from Will Patching and Jay Henderson.
Coleraine continued to threaten and should have taken the lead in the 18th minute when Doherty found Shevlin, but the striker was unable to hit the target.
The Glens responded, with Sloggett forcing Lewis Webb into action with a volley from outside the penalty area in the 27th minute.
That opportunity encouraged the hosts, and Jordan Stewart was next to test the Coleraine goalkeeper before the half-hour mark.
Crellin was called upon again as the interval approached, producing a good save to deny Patching from a free-kick.
The opening stages of the second half were tightly contested, with both sides struggling to create a clear-cut opportunity.
Coleraine introduced former Glentoran midfielder Thomson from the bench, and he broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a composed finish from 12 yards.
The Glens continued to push and found their equaliser seven minutes from time when Jenkins forced the ball home from close range.
McCann and McCourt’s side looked to have secured a point, but Coleraine struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time as McGregor reacted quickest to sweep a loose ball into the net.
Glentoran 1-2 Coleraine
Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Kane (captain), Clarke (Daniels), Stewart (Gallagher), Sloggett (Kelly), Larmour, McMenamin, Singleton (Rogers-Duffy), Malone (Jenkins), Douglas.
Substitutes: Mills, Brown,
