Glentoran deny Carrick win
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Action from the Carrick vs Glentoran match on Saturday at Seaview. Gc0455
CARRICK RANGERS 2, GLENTORAN 2: CARRICK RANGERS came tantalisingly close to their first 'home' victory of the season, with a late Colin Nixon equaliser salvaging a point for Glentoran in Saturday's Carling Premiership encounter at Seaview.
The Glens started off with the wind at their backs, with Andrew Waterworth pinging one off a post; debutant defender Philip Byrne clearing the danger only as far as Stephen Carson who dragged his effort just off target.
Another one of Michael Hughes' recent recruits, Kyle Owens almost scored an own goal on 13 minutes when his back pass was too strong for keeper Declan Brown, zipping just inches wide of the upright.
Three minutes later, Carrick had their first real pot on goal, when the highly impressive Grant Hutchinson fired just wide, after Ciaran Martyn had got caught in possession.
The Glens had another let off on 20 minutes when Paul McDowell headed a Marcus Kane cross just over the bar.
Six minutes later, Jim O'Hanlon did well on the right, brushing past a couple of defenders, setting up Martyn whose volley was blocked by Byrne.
Glentoran, however, opened the scoring on the half hour; Howland finding right back Sean Ward whose harmless enough long range effort deceived everyone, sneaking in at the bottom left hand corner.
The EastEnders could had added to that lead but long range shots from Carson and Nixon both fizzed off target.
Just seven minutes after the turnaround, though, Carrick were back on terms; Ian West breaking down the right, cutting the ball back for McDowell to dispatch beyond keeper Elliott Morris into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The Glens almost cancelled that one out on the hour when Owens gifted the ball to Jimmy Callacher whose shot was deflected wide for a corner. A minute later, Owens almost sliced a David Howland cross into his own net.
Carrick, though, edged in front on 64 minutes when Colin Nixon's challenge on Stephen O'Neill saw the ball spin out for the unmarked Kane to gleefully fire past Morris from ten yards.
With Glentoran's confidence fragile after that Irish Cup defeat by Newington YC the previous week, that goal looked to be enough, as it was hard to see where an equaliser was going to come from - until Nixon bailed them out just four minutes from time, heading in Howland's right wing cross.
From there on in, either side could have won it, with Glentoran's Eamon Murray denied by keeper Brown, and Callacher heading just wide, while, at the other end, McDowell brought the best out if Morris - and then, deep into stoppage time, substitute Davy McAlinden headed a Paul Heatley cross just past the post.
Carrick Rangers - Brown - West, Byrne, Owens (McAlinden), Bell - Heatley, Hutchinson, Hyland, Kane (Deans) - McDowell, Dolan (O'Neill). Subs (unused) Brennan, McGilloway.
Glentoran; Morris - Ward, Callacher, Nixon, Hill, Howland, O'Hanlon (E Murray), Martyn, Carson, Waterworth, Boyce (Burrows). Subs (unused) O'Kane, McGowan, M Murray.
Referee; Mr Mervyn Smyth, Belfast.
Man of the Match; Grant Hutchinson, Carrick Rangers.
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