Kym Nelson and Jordan Stewart shine as Glens see off battling Larne

Young Kym Nelson helped ease Glentoran into the quarter finals of the Toals County Antrim Shield at the Oval on Tuesday night.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Sep 2014, 00:16 BST
Glentoran's Kym Nelson celebrates scoring against LarneGlentoran's Kym Nelson celebrates scoring against Larne
Glentoran's Kym Nelson celebrates scoring against Larne

The 19 year old opened the scoring with a blistering strike late in the first half before another teenage sensation Jordan Stewart struck midway through the second half.

Larne striker Cairan Murray reduced the deficit nine minutes from time, but it was too little to late for the East Antrim boys.

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Following an early bout of tame sparring, Curtis Allen thought he had shot the home team into the lead on 14 minutes when his delicately lofted effort finished in the net, but referee Mervyn Smyth penalised the striker for a naughty push on defender Stuart McMullan.

Cairan Murray then tried his luck from distance on 37 minutes, letting rip with a thundering effort that Morris was relieved to see whistle past the post.

Glentoran finally broke the deadlock on 42 minutes with that Nelson special. The young midfielder was picked out by a peach of a pass from Scullion and his brilliantly struck shot ripped past Connolly.

The Glens almost did it again seconds later, this time Stewart sending Allen free, but he shamefully hoisted his shot high and wide.

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Little Stewart, who was having a frustrating night, could well have grabbed a killer second goal early in the second half, but held his head in frustration after his shot was saved by Connolly.

But the teenage tearaway was not to be denied. He finally killed off the plucky East Antrim outfit on 72 minutes, meeting Willie Garrett’s clever free kick, flicking the ball in at the near post, leaving Connolly a mere spectator.

Maguire gave the home fans a nervous final nine minutes when he slotted home a Maguire cross following a horrible blunder by Morris.

Glentoran: Morris, Garrett, Kane, Birney, Scullion, Allen, Stewart, Henderson (McCullough 69), Addis, O’Hanlon (McKee 71), Nelson.

Subs: McCaffrey, Clarke, Gordon.

Larne: Connolly, Scott, Davison (Robinson 50), McClean (G Gillan 87), Reynolds, McMullan, Irvine (Smith 73), E Gillan, Maguire, Murrray, King.

Subs: Thompson, C Gillan.

Referee: M Smyth (Dundonald).

Related topics:Glentoran