Glentoran continued their 100% start to the Sports Direct Premiership season with a battling 1-0 win over Bangor at the BetMcLean Oval.
The Glens sit second in the standings, just behind Carrick Rangers on goal difference after today’s victory.
It was Ryan Cooney who settled the game in the end with his second-half strike to ensure Declan Devine’s men enjoy a perfect start to the season.
Under glorious August sunshine, both sides took some time feeling out their opponents, but it was Glentoran who came closest to opening the scoring midway through the first half.
Cooney latched onto a precise Ciaran Coll cross-field pass before centring a low cross into the path of the onrushing Jordan Jenkins. However, the striker could only fire a shot off the underside of the crossbar from close range, when really he should have been more accurate.
It took a brilliant save by Bangor keeper Gareth Deane to prevent the Glens going in front just before the break. The former Coleraine man dived to his right to turn Jordan Stewart's powerful header around the upright after a smart Daniel Larmour cross.
Bangor had their best chance of the afternoon on 57 minutes when Tiarnan Mulvenna stole possession from Glentoran defender Shane McEleney before cutting the ball back across goal, but Michael Morgan's effort was saved by goalkeeper Andrew Mills, who somehow got his face in the way of the ball.
Glentoran eventually broke the deadlock on 67 minutes when Kyle Owens' attempted back header to his keeper was intercepted by Cooney, who nipped in to slot the ball past Deane, much to the relief of the home crowd. The Glens were able to hold on to record their second consecutive 1-0 victory.
Fans don’t have long to wait until their next outing at the BetMcLean Oval, with Glenavon the visitors on Tuesday night.
Glentoran: Mills, Cooney, McEleney, Larmour, Coll, Amos, Singleton, Palmer, Thomson, Stewart, Jenkins.
Subs: Urminsky, Kane, Kelly, Ferris, Burt, Lindsay, Russell.
