GLENS MICK NO MISTAKE

Jay penalty helps McDermott’s men stop rot

GLENTORAN boss Mick McDermott blew a sigh of relief after his team picked up their first Danske Bank Premiership points in three outings.

Following two heavy home defeats by Crusaders and rivals Linfield, the nervy East Belfast boys got back to winning ways against Gary Hamilton’s Glenavon at Mourneview Park.

Defender Luke McCullough headed the Glens into a first half lead – his first goal of the club – before Glenavon striker Matthew Fitzpatrick levelled with 19 minutes remaining.

But the Lurgan Blues could hold the lead for merely 90 seconds as Jay Donnelly guaranteed his team the points, scoring from the penalty spot.

“We knew it would be tough, it always is down here,” said McDermott

(right). “We controlled large parts of the game, and we carved out a lot of clear cut chances.

“After our recent results, heads could have gone down when we conceded the equaliser . . . again it was a goal that could have been prevented. But the boys showed good character to hit back right away and we managed the game well once we went in front again. It was a big three points.” It was the home team that had the first sniff of goal on 13 minutes. Sean Ward’s monster throw in broke kindly for Fitzpatrick, whose clever shot on the turn was beaten out by the legs of Aaron McCarey. But it was the visitors who forged ahead three minutes later – a goal that will give Declan Brown nightmares. Hrvoje Plum whipped in a free kick from wide and, although there were a posse of bodies in front of him, the big shot-stopper could only paw the ball on to the head of McCullough.

The usually lethal Andy Waterworth should really have levelled matters on 21 minutes, but he shamefully headed a great cross from Ward wide.

Glentoran then had appeals for a penalty kick when Conor McMenamin buckled under a challenge from Danny Wallace, but referee Ross Dunlop wasn’t interested.

McDermott’s team then had a let-off on 27 minutes. Michael O’Connor’s corner kick was flicked on by Calum Birney for Fitzpatrick, whose header was scrambled off the line by Bobby Burns.

Glentoran upped the tempo after the restart with McMenamin twisting and turning before bringing a great low save from Brown.

Then Jay Donnelly showed a lovely piece of skill to trick his way past Birney before shooting into the side netting.

But the home team equalised on 71 minutes when Matthew Snoddy delivered a delicious cross from the right and Fitzpatrick powered home with the flick of his head. Within 60 seconds the Glens were in front again when

Mark Haughey lunged into a tackle on Plum and the referee this time pointed to the spot. Donnelly made no mistake, even though Brown got a hand to the effort.

Fitzpatrick came within inches of equalising again when his audacious scissors kick that flashed just inches over the crossbar.