Glens show their steel to win a thriller
IN a night of penalty shootout drama in the BetMcLean League Cup, Glentoran edged out Coleraine in a thriller at The Oval.
The Glens will face Crusaders in the quarter-finals following a 3-2 shootout success after the game finished 3-3.
Oval boss Ronnie McFall said: “The boys showed great battling qualities and character to come back and win.”
Portadown booked a last eight date against Linfield with a 4-1 penalty kick triumph following a 1-1 draw with Newry City.
The Blues cruised to a 5-0 home victory over Institute. Ards will host Ballymena United and Cliftonville travel to Dungannon Swifts in the other quarter-final ties.
GLENTORAN boss Ronnie McFall’s believes his boys sent out a statement of intent with this thrilling BetMcLean League Cup penalty shoot-out win at the Oval.
It was a Hallowe’en thriller in every sense with Joe Crowe hitting the spot kick that booked the east Belfast boys a home quarter-final slot against Crusaders.
Crowe held his nerve along with Curtis Allen and Chris Gallagher in the penalty decider, while Jamie McGonigle and Eoin Bradley replied for Coleraine.
“The boys showed great battling qualities — they are a great bunch of lads,” beamed McFall.
“We had a goal awarded against us that everyone in the ground saw was offside.
“Then we had a penalty given against James Ferrin for handball when he was no more than a yard away from (Eoin) Bradley. Everything went against us, but the boys didn’t drop their heads.
“They showed great character to come back and win the game, albeit in a penalty shootout.”
In normal time, Josh Carson shot the Bannsiders ahead before goals from John Herron and Curtis Allen — his 102nd for the
club — turned it around for the home side.
Substitute Jamie McGonigle sent the tie into extra-time by levelling five minutes from the final whistle.
McGonigle then established the lead for the visitors, scoring from the spot, but that man Allen plundered a late party piece to take it to penalties.
“We had to dig in to turn it around,” added McFall.
“If we can maintain the same passion, commitment and resolve, we’ll certainly improve our league position.”
The game burst into life on 21 minutes with Carson edging the Bannsiders in front. Aaron Burns’ nifty footwork totally bamboozled Marcus Kane, who was left with little choice but to flatten the striker with a late challenge.
Although it was wide on the right, Carson whipped in a great cross that crept in at the back post.
But the small pocket of visiting fans were still celebrating when Glentoran levelled.
Allen had his run ended by a clumsy tackle from Stephen Lowry 20 yards out. Herron’s free kick took a wicked deflection off Burns in the Coleraine defensive well, leaving goalkeeper Chris Johns completely wrong-footed.
The visitors roared from the traps after the half-time cuppa.
But it was the Glens who established the lead for the first time on 62 minutes, Allen beating Johns with a header.
Coleraine pinched an equaliser with five minutes remaining. Sub McGonigle looked to be offside when he picked up a Bradley flick, but he stabbed home.
Referee Evan Boyce stunned the home fans by awarding a penalty kick when Bradley’s shot struck the hand of James Ferrin, who was no more than one yard away. McGonigle stepped up to ram home the spot kick.
But the gritty Glens responded within two minutes. Ross Redman’s piercing run on the left created the chance for Allen and he poked home at the near post. ≈ IN last night’s Mid-Ulster Cup quarter-final at Mourneview Park, goals from Niall Grace, Steo Donnelly and Jordan Jenkins helped Glenavon come back from 2-0 down to beat Loughgall 3-2.