The first ‘Big Two’ derby of the season was an intriguing one last night and a tale of two penalties as the Blues and Glens played out a 1-1 draw at The Oval.
On the balance of play, Glentoran will probably be the happier team with the result as Linfield had chances to take all three – particularly in the early stages of the match, and the Blues also struck the woodwork in the last minute.
Alongside the long-term absentees (Gorrin, Ballantyne, McDaid), the Blues were again without the injured Ethan McGee, plus Callumn Morrison, and captain Jamie Mulgrew who participated in the pre-match warm-up as he steps up his recovery from injury. The only change to the team which defeated Portadown 3-0 last week was Dane McCullough coming in for Sam Taylor who dropped to the bench.
Linfield made a quick start in their first away League match of the season and almost took the lead within as little as 26 seconds. Kirk Millar’s lofted ball down the channel was flicked on by Matthew Fitzpatrick into strike partner Kieran Offord who beat Glentoran defender Shane McEleney for pace before getting into the box and seeing a low shot well saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.
That was the first of three or four good opportunities in the opening 20 minutes. In the fourth minute, Linfield put pressure on high up the pitch which led to Glens captain Kane playing a square ball across his own box which landed right at the feet of Matthew Fitzpatrick who was unmarked in a great position, but he dragged his shot wide and will be disappointed not to have scored.
Shortly after, Kieran Offord chased down a hopeful ball into the top left corner of the pitch before cutting inside past two Glentoran defenders, then his low shot was deflected just wide. Minutes later, a corner from McCullough was met by Isaac Baird’s glancing header at the front post, but again it was deflected wide when the goalkeeper was otherwise beaten.
The Linfield onslaught continued, but the opener was not forthcoming as Kyle McClean broke into the box, powered through a challenge and then had a low shot saved on his 200th appearance for the Blues.
Typically, then, Glentoran made the Blues regret their missed opportunities as the Glens took the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute. Kirk Millar was adjudged to have caught Glentoran midfielder James Singleton in an attempt to clear the ball which resulted in a penalty kick – one which the Linfield players protested as they seemed to believe contact was minimal. Glens’ centre forward Pat Hoban found the corner from the spot for his fourth goal of the season.
Chances then dried up for the Blues in the remainder of the first half, although they were never really threatened at their own end either. Kieran Offord threatened in the final minutes of the half as he got down the right and put in a low cross which was deflected, but it didn’t quite fall for a blue shirt, with Millar not far off getting there.
HT: GLENTORAN 1-0 LINFIELD
Despite doing little with the ball in the first half, Glentoran led at the break, so their half-time change could either have been tactical or injury-enforced as Jordan Stewart replaced right wing-back Ryan Cooney and the Glens went to a back four, with Larmour slotting into right back.
However, the Blues continued to dominate, but despite several dangerous crosses into the box and blocked shots, they remained frustrated. Jenkins then broke on a rare Glentoran attack in the 56th minute, but he dragged a low left-footed shot just wide of the far post.
Then, shortly after, Glentoran defender Daniel Larmour missed a good chance as he volleyed over Danny Amos’ corner delivery from close range, and Jordan Stewart sliced a shot wide from a good position a minute later after the Blues failed to clear a cross from the left.
The Blues then found a deserved equaliser in the 62nd minute from the penalty spot. Matthew Fitzpatrick ran onto a ball in behind, got goal-side of Marcus Kane who pulled him down. The fouled started outside the box and ended inside the box, hence the decision for Ben McMaster to award a penalty, although Glentoran players seemed to feel it should have been a free-kick. Chris Shields reclaimed penalty responsibility to send the goalkeeper the opposite direction and score into the corner in front of the travelling Linfield supporters. Shields’ equaliser was the 500th Irish League goal that the Blues have scored against the Glens, in what was the 294th meeting between the teams.
Linfield were then agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 68th minute when Euan East hammered in a low cross to the front post area where Ben Hall stuck out a foot and diverted it towards goal, but it flashed inches wide of the post when he probably thought all it needed was a touch.
Glentoran then had a close-shave of their own, and it was remarkable how they didn’t find themselves back in front following an almighty goalmouth scramble in the 72nd minute. A corner came in, was met by the head of Larmour and Johns looked set for a comfortable save before he collided with teammate Kyle McClean. The ball then broke loose before McClean made a heroic double block on the goalline to deny Jordan Jenkins.
In the final 15 minutes, Kirk Millar fired over a free-kick from a promising position and Matthew Fitzpatrick headed over a good cross from Dane McCullough, while Glentoran captain Marcus Kane produced a great effort with a 20-yard bicycle kick which went just over the bar.
Chaos ensued in three minutes of stoppage time. With 50 seconds remaining, the excellent Sean Brown very nearly won it for the Blues as his sweet strike thundered back off the crossbar. The ball then fell for Isaac Baird following in, but he was denied by a goal-saving block from Marcus Kane in front of goal.
And just as the Blues were thinking what might have been, they were almost caught out at the other end with virtually the last kick as Jordan Jenkins latched onto a long ball in behind before cutting inside and firing just over the crossbar with his left foot.
So, after 294 meetings between the ‘Big Two’, it’s now: Glentoran wins – 82, Linfield wins – 130, and 82 draws. But that’s history, and so now too is the derby as full focus now turns to another tough away League match against Ballymena United on Tuesday evening.
FT: GLENTORAN 1-1 LINFIELD
Glentoran: Andrew Mills (GK), Daniel Larmour, Shane McEleney, Marcus Kane ©, Ryan Cooney (Jordan Stewart 45’), Cameron Palmer (Liam Burt 69’), Josh Kelly, James Singleton, Danny Amos (Johnny Russell 69’), Jordan Jenkins, Pat Hoban
Unused subs: Urminsky (GK), Charlie Lindsay, Kamson-Kamara, Nathaniel Ferris
Linfield: Chris Johns (GK), Sean Brown, Ben Hall, Euan East, Kirk Millar, Chris Shields ©, Isaac Baird, Dane McCullough, Kyle McClean, Kieran Offord (Chris McKee 78’), Matthew Fitzpatrick
Unusued subs: David Walsh (GK), Sam Roscoe, Charlie Allen, Josh Archer, Sam Taylor, Matt Yates
Yellow cards: David Healy, Isaac Baird (Linfield), Marcus Kane, Josh Kelly, Pat Hoban (Glentoran)
Referee: Ben McMaster