It was a much-needed victory for the east Belfast boys, who have perished in two Cup competitions over the past 10 days
Declan Devine’s Glentoran enhanced their title credentials on Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over erratic Cliftonville at the Oval.
It was a much-needed victory for the east Belfast boys, who have perished in two Cup competitions over the past 10 days.
Not only were they beaten by rivals Linfield in the BetMcLean Final on Sunday, but they were dumped out of the Irish Cup the previous week by Larne – albeit on a penalty shootout.
Defender Daniel Larmour headed the Glens into a first half lead before striker Pat Hoban bagged a delicious double after the restart.
The win moved the Glens up to second place in the Sports Direct Premiership table, just two points adrift of Larne. With only six games remaining, it promises to be race to the finish line.
It was the Glens who had the first sniff at goal after only three minutes when Cliftonville goalkeeper Peter Morrison flapped a cross from Jarlath O’Rourke, but there were no takers in the middle.
Cliftonville really should have been in front on 11 minutes when Brian Healy burst through the middle, totally unchallenged and, when confronted by Andrew Mills, he could only blast his effort against the legs of the big shot-stopper.
The visitors almost shot themselves in the foot six minutes later when Morrison let an innocent back pass skip under his boot, only to get back and whip the ball off the line.
Defender Danny Amos picked up the scraps, but he could only shoot over the crossbar.
But Glentoran at last made the breakthrough on 25 minutes. Ryan Cooney’s long throw in caused mayhem in the Reds’ defender. The ball was flicked on by O’Rourke to Larmour and his header looped over Morrison’s outstretched glove.
Another Morrison error 10 minutes from the interval led to Jack Malone putting the ball in the net, but referee Jamie Robinson spared the big keeper’s blushes by awarding him a free kick.
Then, just before the interval, MJ Kamson Kamara joined his forwards to meet a Cooney corner kick, but he could only head wide.
After the restart, Glens midfielder Cammy Palmer tried his luck with an audacious 30-yard effort that curled inches past the post.
But the home had to wait until only the 52nd minute for the killer second goal. This time, Jarlath O’Rourke’s free kick was helped on by Larmour and Hoban superbly flicked the ball over the head of Morrison.
They did it again on 63 minutes. Another Cooney throw in was helped on to the post by Reds’ skipper Rory Hale and when the ball fell to Hoban, hoofed home from six yards for his 30th goal of the season.
Cliftonville almost fell further behind when Amos’ shot was beaten out by Morrison and when Palmer reacted, but he could only flick the ball into the gloves of the relieved goalkeeper. Then, Hale was perfectly positioned to knock an Amos shot off the line.
The Glens now face Coleraine at the weekend, while Larne face a tricky test away at Glenavon.
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