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Belfast derby ends in draw

Monday 5th March 2007, 10:46 pm

Linfield and Glentoran played out a fiercely contested draw in tonight's Setanta Sports Cup group 1 match at Windsor Park Belfast. A 1-1 draw sees Glentoran pick up their first point while Linfield move one point clear at the top of the group.

A rain soaked Belfast saw a bright start but ultimately ended in frustration as both sides finished with ten men. Despite going behind midway through the first half, Glentoran really should have won it in the second half.

Gary Hamilton almost gave the Glens a perfect start as he chased towards goal in the opening minute. However, Kris Lindsay outmuscled him on the edge of the box to avert the danger.

Dean Fitzgerald hit a wayward shot before Linfield came into the game after ten minutes. Aidan O'Kane had a low free kick easily saved by Glentoran keeper Elliott Morris before Michael Gault picked up a 16th minute booking for a poor challenge on Fitzgerald.

The deadlock was broken on 21 minutes when Conor Downey chipped the ball forward for Thomas Stewart and after shrugging off the challenge of Sean Ward, Stewart curled home a delightful finish past Morris.

It wasn't all good news for Linfield as they lost two players to injury before the half hour. Lindsay and Downey were both forced off and the changes didn't do the home side any favours.

Paul Leeman scooped the ball over from close range after Hamilton had hit the crossbar direct from a corner kick. It was a sign of things to come when just seconds later on 31 minutes, Jason Hill slotted the ball home at the back post after a superb low cross from Hamilton.

Tim Mouncey had a shot off target while Mark Dickson hit the bar with a cross before the break. While still a battle in the second half, the overall quality dipped a little as legs tired.

Hamilton should have done better inside ten minutes of the restart as he failed to get away a shot despite bearing down on goal. Linfield were unlucky though when Stewart's shot hit a grounded Colin Nixon on the back of the head.

Glentoran's Fitzgerald had a header saved from a free kick and although he too might have gone closer, an offside flag was up anyway. Hamilton also had a shot saved before McDonagh fired over on the follow-up.

Linfield rode their luck after a couple of defensive errors and Michael Ward failed to hit the target when in one-on-one with Alan Mannus.

The first red card of the night arrived on 84 minutes when Glentoran's Kyle Neill was shown yellow for the second time after rashly kicking the ball at the grounded Jamie Mulgrew.

Linfield's Gault followed him five minutes later after a wild sliding lunge out wide.

Overall, a draw was probably a fair result on a dreadful night for football. Glentoran stay alive in the competition.

Linfield : Mannus, Ervin, Lindsay (Douglas 22), Gault, O'Kane, Dickson, Mulgrew, Downey (McAreavey 27), Mouncey (Kearney 64), Stewart, Thompson.
Glentoran : Morris, Dixon, Leeman, S Ward, Neill, McCann (M Ward 53), McDonagh, Fitzgerald, Hill (Smyth 87), Halliday, Hamilton (Morgan 74).