Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GLENS ON A WARR FOOTING
Mick’s new table-toppers show they’re ready to battle for the title
GLENTORAN inched their way to the summit of the Premiership with a narrow win over basement boys Warrenpoint Town yesterday.
With rivals Linfield slumping to defeat at Coleraine, Mick McDermott’s side leapfrogged the champions at the top of the table but they made hard work of it on a damp and dismal day in east Belfast.
Livewire Robbie McDaid was their brightest spark throughout and it was the 25-year-old who sent the edgy Oval crowd home happy thanks to his fine headed finish in the first half.
Fellow forward Jay Donnelly passed up a golden opportunity to open the scoring early on, side-footing the ball weakly at
Town keeper Stephen McMullan after Sean Murray’s clever first-time pass put the striker clean through on goal. The out of sorts Donnelly also made a hash of his next chance, swiping at fresh air with his left foot after Bobby Burns clipped a dangerous cutback into the area.
It was all a bit laboured from the Glens and Warrenpoint’s disciplined defence – expertly marshalled by Daniel Byrne and Dylan Hand – looked increasingly comfortable as the half wore on.
But it was a false sense of security as a moment of slackness was ruthlessly punished by McDaid six minutes before the break.
Hrvoje Plum’s dead-ball delivery had been uncharacteristically woeful up until that point but this time he was on the money with a free kick from the right touchline and McDaid rose highest to plant a header past McMullan’s despairing dive. Town’s 17-year-old keeper did better a couple of minutes later when he flew to his right to save Murray’s blockbuster effort from outside the box.
McMullan was again called into action by Murray in the 51st minute and again he was equal to the task, plunging low to his right to keep out the midfielder’s beautifully executed volley from 20 yards out.
Full-backs Burns and Rhys Marshall then combined as the Glens attacked from all angles, with the latter taking down Burns’ cross to the back post before firing into the side netting from a tight angle.
McDermott’s men did have to endure a couple of nervy moments as the clock ticked down, not least when defender Caolan Marron almost deflected the ball past his own keeper Aaron McCarey.
But when the final whistle blew a chorus of ‘We are top of the league’ rang out loud and proud around The Oval.