It’s matchday 18 in the Danske Bank Premiership and Glentoran, following last week’s deserved draw at Glenavon, can move up to 7th in the table should they beat Ards and Dungannon Swifts lose to Crusaders.
When the two teams met in Bangor earlier in the season it was newly promoted Ards, then occupying 3rd spot in the table, who took all 3 points with a comfortable 2-nil victory. Glentoran were in 9th spot, a position they still occupy. Roy Coyle was in charge for that fixture, the game coming just a few days after Alan Kernaghan’s resignation.
Since Gary Haveron came into the managerial seat at the Oval, Glentoran have played 8 games in the Danske Bank Premiership, winning 3, drawing 3 and losing 2. A fourth Premiership victory on Saturday would see Haveron continue to build on his solid start.
2013-14 was the last season when the two clubs met in the league and in the 3 meetings there was one win each and a draw. The Glens smashed 5 past Ards in early September 2013 with David Scullion, Calum Birney, Richard Clarke, Jordan Hughes and Niall Henderson all finding the net. Just prior to Christmas the sides played out a dull scoreless draw and then in mid February 2014 Ards, who were at that stage occupying bottom place in the Premiership, rocked the Glens with a 2-1 win at Clandeboye Park.
The only other two competitive meetings since then both came in the Irish Cup. The Glens won 2-nil at the Oval in January 2015 on their way to winning the Irish Cup and a year later, again at the Oval, the Glens progressed in the cup thanks to a 4-1 win with a goal from Jay Magee and a hat-trick from Chris Lavery. A similar performance on Saturday would be very welcome for the Glentoran fans.
Supporter Information:
We would ask supporters to try to be in their seats, or position on the terracing, by 2:50pm tomorrow afternoon. The club will be making a special announcement regarding next year’s 50th anniversary of the Detroit Cougars.
The Board of Directors at Glentoran Football Club would again remind all supporters travelling to the Oval by private car to consider the local residents when deciding where and how to park.
Thank you for your cooperation.