Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DALE CHIPS IN WITH WINNER
Cliftonville 0 Glentoran 1
DALE GORMAN came up with a late winner at Solitude last night to book Glentoran a slot in the County Antrim Shield final.
Mick Mcdermott’s boys have still to win a League game but produced a performance of guts and determination to suggest they are on the up.
Extra-time looked a likely outcome as both sides strived to make the breakthrough.
Gorman was the villain when the teams met at the same venue a few weeks back, when his error gifted Cliftonville a late winner. But this time, the former Stevenage man had the last laugh.
With only two minutes remaining, he powered his way into the box before smashing an unstoppable shot past Richard Brush.
The Shield holders were out and deservedly so as they never really troubled Glentoran goalkeeper Dayle Coleing in the second half.
Reds boss Paddy Mclaughlin made two changes from the team that defeated Carrick Rangers at the weekend, drafting in skipper Chris Curran and defender
Garry Breen, who had recovered form a hamstring problem.
Following their loss at Coleraine, Glentoran chief Mcdermott wielded the axe and made seven changes to his team. Paddy Mcclean, Chris Gallagher, Joe Crowe, Gorman, Jamie Mcdonagh, Jay Donnelly and Cameron Stewart were all given the nod.
There was an early chance for the visitors when Curran’s wayward pass was gobbled up by Mcdonagh, who attempted to lob Brush, but the keeper got a hand to it and Breen tidied up.
The Reds hit back, with Conor Mcmenamin and Joe Gormley both forcing Coleing into action.
Mcdermott’s boys upped the ante and, five minutes before the break, Stewart brought the best out of Brush with a powerful header, following a cross from Mcclean.
The second half was mostly a damp squib. Glentoran substitute Gael Bigirmana came close to ending the gloom when his clever effort looped over the top, with Brush beaten.
But Gorman rode to Glentoran’s rescue and the Oval men will now face Larne in early