ELL WANTS TO KEEP IT CLEAN

Defence all that matters now to Morris

GLENTORAN goalkeeper Elliott Morris is eager to swap viral goals for a rash of clean sheets as the Ovalmen bid to ease further away from the dropzone.

Morris wrote a special chapter in his lengthy career with a shock opener in Saturday’s crucial 2-0 win over Institute at the Brandywell.

His 70-yard free-kick from inside the Glens half was his first ever goal in 723 appearances for the club.

But while Morris enjoyed the media clamour that followed, he insists his only focus is on edging the Glens away from trapdoor trouble.

Saturday’s win ended a 12-game winless streak for the Big Two giants who lay just five points above the relegation playoff spot prior to their trip to the Brandywell.

“I actually took more pride from the clean sheet,” said Morris. “It might sound strange, but I couldn’t give a fiddlers about the goal.

“Listen, I’ll enjoy all the plaudits, but I was delighted to play well and keep a clean sheet because ultimately that’s what I’ll be judged on.

“It’s completely random that I scored at the Brandywell, but it was more important to get back to winning ways.

“Going 12 games without a win meant we were at risk of being in a relegation fight, so hopefully we can build on that and pick up more points.”

Morris, who joined the Glens in 2002, believes Saturday’s win – the first under new manager Gary Smyth – should be the “benchmark”

heading into the second half of the campaign.

“The performance was very good,” he said. “Defensively, we were very good and that has to be the benchmark now.”

While Morris enjoyed his headline grabbing moment, he apologised to Stute keeper Marty Gallagher for his manic celebrations.

“I do think I celebrated a bit too much,” he said. “I look back at the TV footage and think ‘what are you doing?’ I look like an absolute idiot, but I just got lost in the moment.

“I went a bit mad and I actually wanted to apologise to Marty Gallagher after the game because I shouldn’t have celebrated as much as I did.”