Crusaders are out of this season’s Toalsbet.com Co Antrim Shield at the first round. The east Belfast side won 4-2 on penalties after the game finished scoreless after 90 minutes. With neither side managing to get the winner in normal time it was up to Glentoran substitute striker Junior to slot home the winning penalty after Jarlath O’Rourke and Philip Lowry missed for Stephen Baxter’s side.
It was wholesale changes for both sides as Stephen Baxter made seven changes from Saturday’s draw with Loughgall whilst Warren Feeney, watching from the stands following last week’s sending off, changed his entire starting eleven from Saturdays win over Cliftonville. In a tetchy opening neither side were able to impose themselves on the game Jarlath O’Rourke having the first opening on 14 minutes. Ross Clarke, with a rare start on the left flank, centering a header and the Portaferry man smashed in a volley from the edge of the area that brought a save from Glens keeper Oliver Webber. Jude Winchester went close after 32 minutes with a smart turn and shot that missed the target. Glentoran had chances too, with David Fisher powering his shot over Jonny Tuffey’s goal from 25 yards. The chance of the opening half came three minutes before the break. Northern Ireland international Niall McGinn, with a corner from the left, that took the home side by surprise, almost sneaking inside the near post, only for James Teelan, making his first start for the Crues, to head away to safety.
The second period began at a much higher tempo, with both managers clearly having some stern words at the break. Six minutes in, and Feeney’s side went close. McGinn with another dart down the left and after a tidy cut-back, Fisher could see the goal beckon, however his effort was fantastically blocked by a lunging O’Rourke. McGinn continued to be a menace to the Crusaders defence and 60 minutes he chased onto a long ball and got a shot away from an acute angle which forced a fine save from Tuffey. At the other end Jordan Owens failed to get onto the end of a fine Teelan cross from the left when he should have done better. Teelan, soon had a chance of his own but could not divert a Heatley cross home from only six yards out. Both sides pushed hard in normal time, with manager Feeney’s son George coming on to make his debut from the bench, but to no avail as penalties loomed.
Junior scored the deciding penalty to send Glentoran into the next round.