Glentoran advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the BetMcLean Cup with a composed 2–1 win over Crusaders on a foggy Tuesday night at The BetMcLean Oval.

Goals from Jonny Russell and David Fisher ensured Declan Devine’s much-changed side maintained their momentum across competitions, while a late strike from Kurtis Forsythe proved little more than consolation for the visitors.

Before kick-off, Glentoran and Crusaders marked Remembrance, with wreaths laid on the pitch by Glentoran Chairman Colin Jess and Crusaders Chairman Mark Langhammer, followed by a minute’s silence observed impeccably around the ground.

The Glens made the dream start, finding the net inside 44 seconds. Fisher’s curling delivery from the right deceived goalkeeper Musa Dibaga and Russell nodded home from point-blank range to open the scoring.

Crusaders almost capitalised at the other end moments later when Billy Crellin’s clearance rebounded off Adam Brooks, but the debutant keeper recovered brilliantly to claw the ball away for a corner.

The hosts continued to dictate play in the opening half-hour. Christie Pattison’s low drive was blocked and, when the rebound fell to Aaron Burt, the midfielder’s fierce strike was hacked off the line.

Ryan Cooney then went agonisingly close to doubling the advantage with a 25-yard free-kick that flashed inches wide of the goalkeepers’ post, before Jordan Jenkins struck the outside of the upright following a sharp exchange with Pattison.

Three minutes before the interval, Glentoran’s persistence paid off with a goal of real quality. Russell turned provider this time, slipping Jenkins through the left channel and the striker’s low cross was dispatched by a sliding Fisher to make it 2–0.

The Glens carried their two-goal cushion into the break and returned in search of a third. Fisher almost grabbed his second of the evening early in the half but headed narrowly wide from Coll’s corner.

Moments later, he latched onto a clever Burt pass only to see his deflected shot loop just past the far post. Singleton then went close with a crisp drive that clipped the upright, while Jenkins’ deft flick from Cooney’s cross drifted inches beyond the far corner.

Crusaders found a late foothold in stoppage time when Forsythe pounced amid a goalmouth scramble to pull one back.

But it came too late to trouble Devine’s men, who managed the closing stages to seal their progression to the next round of the competition.

Glentoran are next in action when they visit Mourneview Park on Saturday 8th November when they face Glenavon (kick-off 3:00pm) in the Sports Direct Premiership.

Full-Time: Glentoran 2–1 Crusaders

Starting line-up: Crellin, Cooney, Palmer, Pattison (Connolly 54), Coll, Burt (Douglas 86), Kamara, Fisher (Amos 83), Singleton, Russell, Jenkins (Ferris 83).

Unused subs: Mills, Kelly, Hoban.