Match Report

You couldn't write a fairytale about this season. It's a season of thrills and spills for all teams. Looking at the top 4 I cannot remember a league so tight for years. Teams have games in hand and anyone can beat everyone, so who dares run down the Irish League?

The last time Glentoran played Coleraine it was the Rory Patterson show. Last Friday night news emerged that we had signed Patterson on a 3 year pre contract agreement, although he could still play against us today...boy did he punish us!

Coleraine piled on the pressure early on and were looking dangerous in front of goal; Rory Patterson had a couple of chances of his own hit wide of the mark. It took the Glens around 20 minutes to really get started; Jonny Black hit an ambitious effort from outside the box which was too high to threaten O'Hare.

Just 1 minute later there was action up the other end of the pitch. Patterson forced Taylor off his line, resulting in him easily able to slot the ball past the keeper. This week he wasn't holding back and celebrated like a top class striker could.

The Glens pushed forward and looked like they had seen Patterson's goal as a kick up the backside. Piling forward Colin Nixon delivered a nice ball into the box around 38 minutes. Gary Hamilton was able to get on the end of the cross but it was easily saved by O'Hare, who often proves his worth when coming up against Glentoran.

Colerain’s second goal came straight after Hamilton's attempt. Carson and Patterson bursting forward came up against Paul Leeman. Glenmen had very good grounds to think Leeman was fouled, however play continued. Carson slipped the ball to Patterson who finished it with ease.

Alan McDonald made a substitution minutes before half time. New signing Ciaran Martyn making his debut replacing Shane McCabe. It proved to be a good substitution as with his first chance he scored. Martyn was involved in the build up play as Gillespie had a shot on goal. Gillespie's shot into the crowded penalty area deflected off Martyn bringing the score line to 2-1.

After half time the Glens started a lot brighter. Waterworth came on for Burrows in an attempt by McDonald to freshen things up, up front. Dean Fitzgerald was brought down on the edge of the 18 yard box on 53 minutes. Up steps Black to take the free kick and what a cracker it was. The powerful shot went through the keeper’s legs and into the net, sending the Glenmen into euphoria.

It was just not Glentoran’s day, as after a bright start to the second half we were behind once again. Who else is going to score it but Rory Patterson?

The in swinging corner was bundled into the net by that boy Patterson once again; Glentoran fans could only look on in disbelief.

The Glens huffed and puffed to get back into the match, trying to get forward however it just wasn't happening. Tommy McCallion, the player branded not good enough for us in 2005, was a powerhouse in the Coleraine midfield. Late on Coleraine finished off the Glens, sending a large percentage of the big travelling support home. Jody Tolan was the scorer this time with around 6 minutes left on the clock, game, set and match.

Waterworth grabbed a late consolation in added time but it wasn't enough.

Very hit and miss season for The Glens so far. Why do we surrender games when we are on top, such as the beginning of the second half on this occasion? Time to decide if we want this trophy or not. We need to put one hand on the Gibson cup and firmly state it is staying at The Oval. We are a team capable of running away with this league, so why not show it?

Portadown in the CIS semi this Tuesday, time to prove our worth.

Forever and Ever