Chris Johns (GK), Trai Hume, Michael Newberry, Jimmy Callacher (Sam Roscoe 61’), Matthew Clarke, Chris Shields, Kyle McClean, Cameron Palmer, Jamie Mulgrew © (Kirk Millar 54’), Jordan Stewart, Christy Manzinga (Ahmed Salam 66’)
Aaron McCarey (GK), Bobby Burns, Joe Crowe, Patrick McClean, Rhys Marshall, Hrvoje Plum, Seanan Clucas, Shay McCartan (Gael Bigirimana 62’), Rory Donnelly (Mal Smith 88'), Conor McMenamin, Jay Donnelly (Willie Garrett 90’)
Fans of Belfast’s Big Two had to wait a day extra this year for the traditional ‘Boxing Day derby’ but it was worth the wait as the top two teams in the league – only separated by goal difference – played out an entertaining draw.
Glentoran will be happier with their point as Linfield were undoubtedly the best team on the day by a distance and the Glens played half an hour with ten men in front of over of 8,000 spectators in a boisterous Windsor Park which hosted its biggest crowd for a league match in well over a decade. Both teams sold out their allocations within covid restrictions and it made for a great occasion which was a great advert for the Irish League.
Despite Linfield’s general dominance, it was Glentoran who had the better of the opening ten minutes. Indeed, Mick McDermott’s men had the first opportunity of the game and a golden chance it was. Striker Jay Donnelly looked sure to score when he went through on goal as he clipped the ball past Chris Johns, only to be denied by some miraculous defending as Trai Hume sprinted back to slide in and hook the ball off the line, just as he also did against Ballymena last week to clear one off the line when it looked a certain goal.
Linfield then clicked into gear and their midfield diamond of Chris Shields, Jamie Mulgrew, Kyle McClean and the advanced Cameron Palmer started to take control. The Glentoran threat was nullified as Linfield started to probe. Matthew Clarke was first to have a pop when he met a cross lofted in by Jamie Mulgrew which was just over the head of Christy Manzinga and Clarke’s volley at the back post was crucially blocked by Rory Donnelly.
Jimmy Callacher went agonisingly close when he met a brilliant free-kick delivery whipped to the back post area at pace by Kyle McClean as the defender’s header flashed just wide of the far post.
The breakthrough arrived 36 minutes into the match as Linfield took the lead. Matthew Clarke broke forward down the left and he clipped a cross into the middle and with Glentoran focused on Christy Manzinga, the ball landed at the back post area where Trai Hume arrived in like a steam-train to thunder in an emphatic volley which gave McCarey no chance.
As Linfield looked for a second before the break, Christy Manzinga cut in from the left and when he shot, his effort from 20 yards was deflected wide for a corner. Matthew Clarke delivered it and Callacher was unlucky again as he headed just wide.
Half Time: Linfield 1-0 Glentoran
The Blues started the second half brightly and almost doubled their lead on 49 minutes. Cameron Palmer’s endurance and persistence on the byline was rewarded when he broke past full-back Bobby Burns in the box and he pulled it back to Jordan Stewart whose close range shot was well saved by the goalkeeper. The ball rolled to Chris Shields on the edge of the box and he looked to place it into the corner - after strolling onto it his effort was deflected just wide.
Then, just a minute later, the Blues had another big chance. Jordan Stewart headed the ball into space to send Christy Manzinga in on goal, but the in-form striker took the ball a little wide and Glentoran defender Joe Crowe managed to get back to make a brilliant goal-saving block.
A major talking part in a physical Big Two derby arrived on the hour-mark. Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin was beaten to the ball by Jimmy Callacher who he caught with what looked like an awful challenge on the half-way line, flying in with his studs up. McMenamin received a straight red as he departed on a stretcher having hurt himself and Jimmy Callacher had to be replaced. Glentoran withdrew the Irish League’s all-time most expensive signing Shay McCartan and went to a 4-4-1 system.
Jordan Stewart then had a chance to make it 2-0 when lively substitute Kirk Millar clipped a cross to the back post where it was contested aerially before it dropped for Stewart to strike a volley on the turn but he fired over from close range.
Then came the twist in the tale as ten man Glentoran drew level on 72 minutes with their first effort at goal since the opening ten minutes. Hrvoje Plum whipped in a free-kick and it was headed into the top corner by Glentoran striker Jay Donnelly. It was a soft goal to concede and perhaps could have been different had Jimmy Callacher still been on the pitch.
In a way, the red card arguably helped Glentoran and was a blessing in disguise as is often the case when a team goes down to ten men as they rally together and aim to keep a tight ship first and foremost. This was certainly the case for Glentoran who were camped in their own box for the majority of the final 15 minutes.
Linfield were still battering on the door in search of a winner and drew a number of good saves from Aaron McCarey. Kyle McClean had a low shot from close range saved by the keeper’s feet, before Michael Newberry and Cameron Palmer both saw efforts from 25 yards well saved as the ‘keeper pushed both strikes over the bar.
Ahmed Salam connected well with a 20 yard strike which whistled just over the bar and Trai Hume threatened to score his second with a near miss as his header from a Kirk Millar corner was just wide. Patrick McClean produced some good defending towards the end of eight added minutes as he headed Jordan Stewart’s shot away for a corner.
Full Time: Linfield 1 – 1 Glentoran
LinfieldFC.com Man of the Match: Trai Hume
Match Images
