Late goals from Aaron McEneff and Marcus Kane secured Glentoran’s second league win of the season as Declan Devine’s side returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Ballymena United.

It was a hard-fought contest at The Showgrounds, with both teams looking to bounce back from defeats last time out.

The breakthrough arrived with nine minutes remaining when Scot Whiteside was penalised for handball. McEneff kept his composure from the spot, beating David Walsh with a Panenka-style penalty.

Captain Kane then marked his 500th league appearance by making sure of the points in stoppage time, heading home at the near post from McEneff’s corner.

Devine made two changes to the side which lost to Linfield last weekend.

Jordan Stewart, who scored against the Blues, missed out through suspension, while Jack Malone was ruled out through injury. Josh Kelly and Josh Daniels came into the starting XI.

Striker Pat Hoban remained unavailable, but there was a place on the bench for new signing Lekan Sule following his move from Rosario.

The Glens created the first opportunity when Zeno Rossi met McEneff’s free-kick, but the defender directed his header over the crossbar.

McEneff then dragged an effort wide following good work from Jordan Jenkins.

Glentoran survived a scare before the quarter-hour mark when Ryan Cooney conceded possession to Chris McKee. He released Igor Rutkowski, whose shot was pushed away by Billy Crellin.

McKee then sent a header crashing against the underside of the crossbar. Matthew Clarke forced home the rebound, but the goal was ruled out by the officials.

At the other end, Walsh was called into action to deny Ross Clarke after Daniels had picked him out inside the area.

Crellin was tested by Rutkowski again in the 38th minute, with the goalkeeper getting down to smother the striker’s effort.

Chances were limited during the opening stages of the second half, with McEneff heading off target before the hour mark.

Rossi then met another Cooney corner but was again unable to direct his header on target.

As Ballymena began to threaten, James Singleton had to react quickly to deny Charlie Allen a sight of goal.

Allen subsequently found James Hood from a free-kick, but Crellin showed his quality once again by getting down to push the resulting effort away.

Glentoran felt they should have been awarded a penalty as the game entered its final 15 minutes when Ross Clarke’s effort struck Fuad Sule, but referee Steven Gregg was unmoved.

The visitors did receive a spot kick with nine minutes remaining after Whiteside was adjudged to have handled inside the area. McEneff stepped forward and cheekily chipped the ball beyond Walsh to put the Glens in front.

The goal reinvigorated Glentoran, who went close to adding a second when Walsh denied Kane and Singleton in quick succession.

Kane was not to be denied, however. Two minutes into stoppage time, the captain met McEneff’s corner at the near post and headed home to complete the victory on his landmark appearance.

Ballymena United 0 – 2 Glentoran

Starting XI: Crellin, Cooney, Rossi, Kane, Singleton, Kelly, McEneff, Thomson (Douglas) Clarke, Daniels, Jenkins (Gallagher)

Substitutes: Morris, Sule Larmour, Weatherup, Faloona,