Glentoran 1-1 Carrick Rangers

Glentoran and Carrick Rangers scored a goal each at the Oval as they played out a draw which will have left the home side frustrated.

The Glens took the lead towards the end of the first half through Ross Redman, but the visitors equalised through Lee Chapman just 40 seconds into the 2nd half to earn his side a deserved point.

Clear cut chances were limited for Carrick, and they wasted their first opportunity of the opening period which came in the 16th minute. Ben Roy swung in a corner from the left which found the head of a completely unmarked Denver Gage whose effort flew harmlessly over the bar.

The home side then went close from a corner of their own, but Marcus Kane couldn’t direct a header on target after John McGuigan’s delivery from the right.

Harry Doherty was first forced into a save in the 23rd minute when he blocked a low, driven effort from McGuigan – although he was fortunate to see the ball cleared, as he almost spilt it at the feet of Curtis Allen.

The striker then sent a left-footed shot wide when he perhaps should have instead squared it to McGuigan.

In the 29th minute, another Roy corner caused problems - this time met by Patrick McNally, and his precise header drew a flying save from Elliot Morris.

The Glens rallied and almost found the opener in the 38th minute when Tiernan McNicholl showed great determination to shake off a wild challenge and send the ball wide to McGuigan. McNicholl surged into the box to meet the return cross, but the ball got caught a half-step behind him, and he could only shoot wide.

When the opener finally came in the 41st minute, it was no surprise that McGuigan was involved in the goal. He picked out Ross Redman who had surged into the box, and the left-back calmly drilled a low shot into the far corner.

Whatever David McAlinden told his side at half time breathed some much-needed life into Carrick, and just 40 seconds into the second half, they equalized through Lee Chapman. Mark Edgar whipped in an inch-perfect cross from the left, and Chapman ghosted between his markers and flew in with a header from 6 yards which he tucked beyond Elliott Morris.

Glentoran could have gone ahead on the hour. McGuigan and Kane again combined from a corner whipped in from the right, but the Glens captain only made slight contact, and the ball spun away beyond the back post, with nobody able to provide the killer touch.

There was a worrying sight for home supporters in the 70th minute when Curtis Allen briefly went down injured after a clash with Patrick McNally. 2 minutes later, the big defender got involved again and almost scored at the other end, having beaten Elliot in the air to reach a cross first, but his header bounced wide.

As the game drew to a finish, the visitors looked dangerous. Martin Maybin broke in the 85th minute, and almost managed to find Mooney with a driven cross which had to be palmed to safety by Morris.

Glentoran pushed for a late winner themselves, but the best they could muster was a couple of optimistic shouts for handball, and the game limped to a finish.