Crusaders u20 0-4 Glentoran u20
Glentoran got back to winning ways in the u20 NIFL Premiership Development League last night after their recent defeat to St James Swifts in the Steel and Sons Cup with a 4-0 win over Crusaders at Seaview.
The young Glens were bolstered by the presence of 6 first team squad players for the game against a similarly strong Crusaders side for what was a highly competitive and entertaining fixture.
16 year old Paul McLaughlin made two impressive saves from David Cushley inside the first 15 minutes before Jonathan Smith opened the scoring with a superb solo effort for the Glens.
Eoghan McCawl doubled the Glens advantage mid-way through the half with a neat left foot finish in to the bottom corner of Michael Dougherty’s goal.
Glentoran dominated large spells of possession in the latter stages of the half and could have been further in front as Smith fired just over the bar before Paul O’Neill fizzed a shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post.
McLaughlin was called into action again before the break when he had to stretch to tip over a Cushley free kick but the Glens went in at half time 2 goals to the good.
James Knowles made it three, ten minutes into the second half when he rifled a low shot into the net after a neatly worked short corner.
Glentoran were in total control of the game at this stage and made their dominance pay when Eric Foley slipped a measured pass into the run of Jonathan Smith who rushed into the box and finished superbly for 4-0
Team:
Paul McLaughlin
Mal Smith
James McCarthy
James Ferrin
Padraig Hughes
James Knowles
Conall Delaney
Eoghan McCawl
Paul O’Neill
Jonathan Smith
Eric Foley
Subs:
Lalor (for O’Neill, 43)
Lowe (for Knowles, 55)
McKenna (for McCawl, 70)
Not used:
Wardlow
Baird