Congratulations to Spike Hill and his Glentoran Seconds team who defeated Ballyclare Comrades on penalties tonight to book their place in the final of the Steel & Sons Cup.
Both sides struggled to find any rhythm at a bitterly cold Seaview and it took until the 73rd minute before the Seconds finally broke the deadlock. Skipper, Samuel McIlveen played a free kick into the penalty area and found Richard Gibson who headed back across the face of goal to substitute Carl McComb who nodded home from close range. On 80 minutes the Comrades levelled with a looping header clearing Aaron Hogg in the Seconds' goal. On 90 minutes the Seconds nearly snatched a victory when a spectacular overhead kick from Gibson went inches wide of the upright.
The Seconds regained the lead in the final minute of the first period of extra time. A superb pass from substitute, Matty Kerr found Daniel Burns and his low drive from the edge of the area found the bottom corner of the net. With just 4 minutes of extra-time remaining the Seconds looked to have wrapped things up when Carl McComb nipped in at the back post to turn in a cross from Burns. Unfortunately a linesman's flag saw the 'goal' chalked off. A minute later it was 2-2 and with there being no further scoring we went to a penalty shoot-out.
The Seconds scored 4 of their 5 pens with Ballyclare Comrades netting 3. The Glentoran Seconds scorers were Samuel McIlveen, Carl McComb, Jordan Stewart and Stephen Gordon.
Glentoran Seconds: A. Hogg, O. Thompson, K. Bradley, C. Birney, W. Garrett, S. McCullough, S. McIlveen (capt), S. Gordon, D. Burns, R. Gibson & J. McKinney.
Subs: C. McComb, J. Stewart, M. Kerr, C. Dawson and D. Chisanga.
The final, against either Ards or Immaculata, will be played at Seaview on Christmas morning.
It will be an all-ticket fixture. Details of ticket prices and outlets will be posted on the official website when we have them.