Glentoran got their post-split campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 victory over Coleraine this evening in the Sports Direct Premiership at The BetMcLean Oval.
An early own goal from Charles Dunne, followed by a second-half strike from substitute Dylan Connolly, secured the three points for the Glens and lifted them back up to second in the table.
Home supporters had barely taken their seats when they were on their feet celebrating an early breakthrough. Just three minutes in, Danny Amos delivered a superb cross from the left which Coleraine defender Dunne could only divert into his own net.
Ten minutes later, it was almost two. Jordan Jenkins latched onto a long ball over the top and attempted to lob the retreating Rory Brown from 30 yards, but his effort dropped narrowly wide.
Despite facing early pressure, Coleraine were handed a lifeline on 21 minutes when Fuad Sule was adjudged to have brought down Jamie Glackin inside the area. Referee Shane McGonigle pointed to the spot, but Daniel Gyollai produced a superb save to deny Matthew Shevlin from 12 yards.
Moments later, David Fisher came close to doubling Glentoran’s lead when his strike from the left crashed off the base of Brown's right-hand post and away to safety.
Gyollai was called into action again on the half-hour mark, reacting sharply to keep out Jack Scott’s effort from close range, while Glackin narrowly missed connecting with a dangerous low cross from Rhyss Campbell before the break.
Half-Time: Glentoran 1 – 0 Coleraine
Despite Coleraine’s early intent in the second half, it was Glentoran who landed the next blow. On 57 minutes substitute Dylan Connolly made an instant impact, picking up possession on the edge of the box and drilling a low drive into the bottom left-hand corner, giving Brown no chance.
Jordan Jenkins continued to cause problems and on 77 minutes he pressed brilliantly to win back possession before teeing up Sule, whose low strike from 12 yards was well gathered by Brown.
Coleraine pulled one back deep into injury time through a Sean McManus penalty after Shevlin was brought down in the box — but it proved nothing more than a consolation, as the Glens saw out the win.
Full-Time: Glentoran 2 –1 Coleraine
