An injury time goal from Niall McGinn gave the Glens a very deserved win at Shamrock Park today with a vastly improved performance against a resilient newly promoted Portadown side.
Declan Devine made four starting personnel changes from last week’s defeat by Crusaders. Fuad Sule returned from suspension into the midfield where he sported the captain’s armband, joined by Cameron Palmer and Charlie Lindsay (subs last week). Wassim was unwell this week so Jordan Jenkins came in to partner Jay Donnelly who moved from midfield to jointly lead the attack. Niall McGinn and David Fisher moved to the bench where they were joined by the recovered skipper Marcus Kane. Harry Murphy was playing for the Seconds in the Steel & Sons Cup.
The Glens started positively but it was from a superb James Singleton defensive clearance that we took the lead on nine minutes. Singo’s clearance went TO Charlie Lindsay whose immediaten crossfield pass went straight to Dylan Connolly who – not for the only time this afternoon – burst through the Ports midfield with his blistering pace to find Jordan Jenkins who cut in from the right to confidently slip the ball past our former keeper Aaron McCarey.
There was plenty of attacking activity from both sides during the sometimes feisty first half. First McCarey saved well from both Cammy Palmer and Frankie Hvid while Hvid and Josh Kelly did very well to contain various threats from recently signed Ports striker Josh Ukek who was proving a handful on his debut. There were also good goalkeeping moments as McCarey saved well from a goal bound Jay Donnelly header and Daniel Gyollai did well to hold one from ex-Glens player Shay McCartan.
Half time: Portadown 0-1 Glentoran
The Glens started the half in a positive manner as Paddy McClean had a decent penalty shout waved away, Jenkins, Hvid, Singleton all headed over, and McCarey saved well from the marauding Connolly and Hvid – having a superb game after a difficult debut – was very unlucky to have a goal bound header rebound off a team mate.
The Ports equalised with fourteen minutes to go and from a player who was scored against us on numerous occasions for previous clubs. A Portadown corner was headed clear but picked up by Ryan Mayse on the right-hand edge of the Glens box. Mayse took his opportunity and drove the ball home giving Gyollai no chance.
There followed chances at both ends with sub David Fisher and a Ports player both shooting wide. But the deserved winner came two minutes into injury time. It carried a bit of luck as Niall McGinn’s shot from 20 yards out took a kind deflection that diverted high over McCarey’s head and into the Ports net. The reaction from both Glens players and supporters was what we’ve all needed to see as the players showed the necessary character and resilience to bounce back from the earlier blow.
So a very strong and resolute performance all over the pitch. Next up Coleraine visit the Bet McLean Oval on Tuesday night, KO 7.45pm.
Full time: Portadown 1-2 Glentoran
Glentoran: Gyollai, Singleton, Hvid, McClean (Kane 85), Kelly, Sule (c ), Palmer, Lindsay (McGinn 64), Connolly, J Donnelly, Jenkins (Fisher 70),
Subs (Not used): Mills, Farley, Douglas, O’Neill.
Photography by PACEMAKER and ADAM HARWOOD