Glentoran 1-1 Crusaders
David McDaid scored a late equaliser as Glentoran came from behind to draw 1-1 with Crusaders at the Oval.
The visitors had taken the lead early in the second half through Jamie McGonigle in a feisty Belfast derby that saw Glens striker Cameron Stewart sent off in the 90th minute.
The Glens had to work hard to get back into the game, but perhaps should have taken the early lead on the back of a Hrvoje Plum corner.
His driven delivery was almost turned in at the back post, but Paddy McClean could only find the side netting from close range, before Declan Caddell volleyed narrowly wide in response for the Crues in the 14th.
Crues captain Colin Coates then headed wide from a 25th minute corner, and Philip Lowry's header 1 minute later went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Marijan Antolovic.
Crusaders kept up the pressure, and in 34th mintue Ross Clarke hammered a shot from the angle into the side netting, but the teams went in goalless.
The Glens must have been on the receiving end of some stern words at half time because they exploded out of the blocks in the second half, almost breaking the deadlock in the first minute of play.
Cameron Stewart robbed Howard Beverland of possession before driving into the box to tee up Paul O'Neill from close range, but his effort was blocked, and Plum's follow up was deflected around the post by sub Chris Hegarty.
The defender had to stoop to block a McDaid volley that looked goalbound, and it proved to be a decisive moment as the Crues took the lead in the 50th minute.
Clarke swung in a corner from the left, and the ball eventually found its way to Jamie McGonigle, who took a touch before hammering a 20-yard shot through a crowd of players that left Antolovic flat-footed as it tore into the bottom corner.
Plum went close with a 64th minute free kick for the Glens, but the Croatian midfielder couldn't arrow one of his trademark efforts into the top corner, and it took some superb defending for Howard Beverland to stop McDaid as he bore down on goal with 70 played.
However, the Crusaders defence was eventually beaten in the 80th minute as the Glentoran pressure finally told.
Having failed to clear a corner, the ball dropped to Gavin Peers on the edge of the box, with the center back heading the ball between the lines to feed McDaid, sending the striker clear to guide his right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
In the 90th minute, Glentoran forward Cameron Stewart was shown a straight red card for a clash with Beverland as both players chased a ball into the corner.