Crucial win for ten-man Glentoran

Mick McDermott’s boys appeared to be cruising to victory after Jay Donnelly had shot the east Belfast side into a first half lead.

But the former Cliftonville man blotted his copy book just before the hour when he was dismissed following a horrible challenge on Rangers defender Mark Surgenor.

Battling Rangers went looking for a leveller, but were caught on the count-attack by that man McDaid, whose late strike helped the Glens racked up their fourth win of the Danske Bank Premiership campaign.

The Glens roared from the blocks and really should have been in front on six minutes, but Paddy McClean failed to hit the target with a free header following a cross from Hrvoje Plum.

Rangers hit back immediately with big Jordan Gibson hoofing wide a cross from Lee Chapman.

Ciaran O’Connor, who was making things happen for the Glens in the middle of the park, threaded a great pass into the path of Jay Donnelly and, after skipping past the challenge of Chris Rodgers, he forced Arron Hogg into a smart save.

Rangers thought they had made the breakthrough on 14 minutes when new boy Jenkins blasted past Dayle Coleing, but eagle-eyed referee Jamie Robinson decided the young striker had strayed into an offside position.

Plum then forced Hogg into action just after the half-hour with a stinging low drive before Rhys Marshall burst through the middle but instead of trying his luck at goal, elected to find Jay Donnelly, who missed a sitter, even though the linesman’s flag was up again for offside.

The Glens were let off the hook eight minutes before the break. O’Connor somehow managed to head Chris Rodgers’ bullet header off the line, following Kyle Cherry’s corner kick.

Hogg once again established himself for Rangers when Robbie McDaid gobbled up a pass from skipper Marcus Kane, but the big shot-stopper went full stretch to save.

But the Glens made the breakthrough on 40 minutes, but there was a touch of fortune about Jay Donnelly’s, seventh goal of the season. Kane’s cross came off the head of Cherry, which totally flat-footed Hogg, leaving the former Cliftonville man with an easy header.

Glens carried on where they left off after the restart. Jay Donnelly picked up the long striding Luke McCullough, who let rip with a stunning 30-yard low drive that whistled inches past the post.

But the home side were reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes when Donnelly was dismissed following a nasty late tackle on Mark Surgenor.

Rangers should have been back on level terms minutes later when Marshall got back to clear a dangerous Jenkins cross that flashed across the face of the goal.

Gibson was then presented with two big chances in as many minutes. Lloyd Anderson’s cross presented the striker with an open goal, but he screwed his effort wide, before Dayle Coleing botched clearance fell to the Carrick man 30 yards out, but his cheeky chip inched over the top.

But against all the odds, substitute Jamie McDonagh poked the ball into the path of McDaid, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before blasting an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

GLENTORAN: Coleing, Marron, McCullough, McClean, Kane, Marshall, O’Connor (McDonagh 62), Plum (Gallagher 82), R Donnelly, McDaid, J Donnelly.

Unused subs: Brown, Gorman, Bigirimana, Stewart, O’Neill

CARRICK RANGERS: Hogg, Surgenor, Rodgers (Ramsey 46), Loughran, Chapman, Kelly (Glendinning 52), Smith, Cherry, Gibson, Anderson (Storey 76), Jenkins.

Unused subs: McKinty, Forsytle, McKenna, Millar.

REFEREE: Jamie Robinson.

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