Spirited 10-man Glentoran suffer defeat to Motherwell

Glentoran, playing their 100th match in European competition, settled well, winning two corners in quick succession in the opening seven minutes only for Motherwell to break quickly down the right – Chris Long’s driven cross flashing across the face of goal without any takers.

The home side began to gain control – from a Liam Polworth corner Declan Gallagher’s deflected volley in the 13th minute was turned wide by Glens goalkeeper Dale Coleing - but Glentoran threatened on the break, notably on 21 minutes when Gallagher’s misplaced header out of defence allowed Marcus Kane to send in a drive held by Trevor Carson.

A 25-yard shot from Paul O’Neill was deflected wide with Carson wrong-footed and from the resultant Caolan Marron corner Rory Donnelly might have done better than head straight into Carson’s arms from six yards out.

In the 33rd minute Stephen O’Donnell’s shot on the turn was held by Coleing then the goalkeeper was scooping the ball away after Long had burst into the area.

The interval arrived with the scoresheet remaining blank – and the Belfast side had every reason to be more than satisfied with their first-half performance.

Six minutes after the restart Glentoran were reduced to 10 men when Seanan Clucas, already on a yellow card, received a second booking.

Fine work by Chris Gallagher on the left then produced a cutback scooped over by O’Neill.

The deadlock was finally broken just before the hour when Callum Lang netted from an O’Donnell cross.

A superb sliding tackle from Marron denied Polworth but O’Donnell fired in a 25-yard drive on 71 minutes.

Four minutes later Polworth headed home after Long’s powerful shot had been pushed into the air by Coleing.

Motherwell substitute Tony Watt added a fourth goal in the 78th minute and Long made it 5-0 eight minutes later.

Glentoran’s late consolation arrived as Robbie McDaid scored a penalty.

Motherwell: Carson, Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie, Grimshaw (Seedorf, 60), Polworth, Campbell, O’Hara, O’Donnell (Robinson, 81), Lang (Watt, 70), Long.

Subs (not used): Morrison, White, Hastie, Maguire

Glentoran: Coleing, Marron, Cowan, McClean, Kane, Clucas, Bigirimana, Gallagher (O’Connor, 78), O’Neill (McDonagh, 61), Donnelly (Stewart, 72), McDaid.

Subs (not used): Crowe, Brown, McCulloch, Mitchell

Referee: Bram Van Driessche