Glentoran 1-1 Derry City
Tuesday, 15 April 2008 22:51Derry City lived to rue their profligacy after claiming a share of the spoils against Glentoran at The Oval.
With both sides making significant changes for this Setanta Sports Cup clash, it was the visitors who dominated, and, on another night, striker Conor Sammon would have bagged a first half hat-trick.
However, their failure to find the net combined with the brilliance of Glentoran keeper Elliott Morris kept the Brandywell side at bay.
Kevin McHugh smashed a free-kick off the crossbar but the best chance fell to Sammon in the 43rd minute when broke free but blasted over.
Glentoran were dangerous on the break and Derry keeper Gerard Doherty had to be at his best to deny both Gary Hamilton and Michael Halliday.
Derry broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. Niall McGinn scampered clear on the left, but as he raced into the area, the winger was taken down from behind by Glentoran defender Jamie McGovern.
Referee Mark Courtney immediately pointed to the spot and Sammon drove the ball to the net despite Morris getting a touch
The visitors continued to press and McHugh had no fewer than three chances in as many minutes to increase the lead, but failed on each occasion.
But with just one goal separating the teams, Glentoran were always in the match and Colin Nixon, who was introduced four minutes earlier, equalised in the 70th minute.
A Sean Ward free from the left was not dealt with by the Derry defence and when the ball dropped into the path of the Glentoran skipper, his shot found the net off the inside of the upright.
The visitors continued to force the issue but Derry captain Peter Hutton headed wide when well placed, while Morris produced yet another top-drawer save to deny Ciaran Martyn in the 86th minute.
As the game drew to a close, a superb shot from Gareth McGlynn crashed off the Glentoran crossbar, those missed chances in the first half now proving very costly.
Glentoran: Morris; McGovern, Ferguson (Leeman, h-t), Simpson, Glendinning (Nixon, 66 mins.); Boyce, Fitzgerald, Berry, Scullion; Hamilton (Ward, h-t), Halliday.
Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Hutton, Gray, Callaghan; McHugh (Morrison, 76 mins.), Martyn, Molloy, McGinn; McGlynn, Sammon.
Referee: M Courtney (Dungannon).
