Irish Premiership

Ballymena United 0 – 2 Glentoran FT

Glentoran clinched a 2-0 victory against Ballymena United at the Showgrounds, scoring both goals in the final ten minutes of the match.

Aaron McEneff broke the deadlock with a Panenka-style penalty nine minutes from the end, turning the tide of a match that appeared destined for a scoreless draw.

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In stoppage time, Skipper Marcus Kane, celebrating his 500th Irish League appearance, secured the win for Glentoran with a powerful header into the near post.

This win served as an ideal response for Glentoran after their defeat against Linfield the previous weekend, while Ballymena faced a second consecutive loss following their strong opening-day victory at Windsor Park.

The initial opportunity of the match came for Ballymena in the 12th minute when Chris McKee intercepted a Ryan Cooney pass and set up Igor Rutkowski with a swift ball. Rutkowski fired a shot that Glentoran keeper Billy Crellin managed to deflect to safety with a dive to his right.

Glentoran responded in the 23rd minute; Josh Daniels displayed great determination to keep the ball in play before delivering a cross that Ross Clarke met at full stretch, forcing Ballymena keeper David Walsh into an unusual save with his shoulder.

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As the first half wrapped up, Ballymena had a brief opportunity when Crellin rushed out of goal to clear a loose ball, but Charlie Allen’s follow-up volley sailed off target.

The second half proved challenging, with James Hood making contact with an Allen free kick that required Crellin to dive low to his left to keep the ball out.

Just as it seemed the match would end goalless, Glentoran found the decisive moment nine minutes before time. Referee Steven Gregg awarded a penalty after determining that Ballymena defender Scot Whiteside had handled Ben Gallagher’s shot. McEneff stepped up to execute a confident chipped penalty straight down the middle.

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Following this breakthrough, Glentoran pushed forward energetically, with Walsh making successive saves to deny Marcus Kane and James Singleton.

Kane ultimately found the net with a second goal during added time, heading in from McEneff’s corner to confirm Glentoran’s victory.

Irish Premiership

Ballymena United 0 – 2 Glentoran FT

Glentoran scored twice in the last 10 minutes to record a 2-0 Irish Premiership victory over Ballymena United at the Showgrounds.

Aaron McEneff’s Panenka-style penalty with nine minutes left broke the deadlock in a game which looked to be heading towards a scoreless stalemate.

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Skipper Marcus Kane, who was making his 500th Irish League appearance, wrapped up the points for the Glens in stoppage time with a powerful near post header.

It was the perfect response for Glentoran to their defeat by rivals Linfield last weekend but it’s now back-to-back defeats for Ballymena since their impressive opening day win at Windsor Park.

The first real opening of the game fell to Ballymena on 12 minutes when Chris McKee intercepted a Ryan Cooney pass and slipped the ball into the path of strike partner Igor Rutkowski. The frontman immediately fired a shot which Glentoran keeper Billy Crellindived to his right to palm away.

Glentoran carved out an opening on 23 minutes when Josh Daniels’ tenacity to keep the ball in on the bye-line saw his dig out a cross which was met at full stretch by the in-rushing Ross Clarke, forcing Ballymena keeper David Walsh to make an unorthodox save with his shoulder.

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Ballymena had another half-chance with the final action of the first period when Crellin raced from his goal to head the ball clear outside his area but Charlie Allen couldn’t keep his volley on target.

The second half struggled to find any real direction with James Hood meeting an Allen free kick, forcing Crellin to dive low to his left to palm the ball away.

But just as it looked as though the game might drift to a scoreless stalemate, Glentoran struck the decisive blow with nine minutes left.

Referee Steven Gregg awarded a penalty after adjudging that grounded United defender Scot Whiteside had blocked Ben Gallagher’s shot with his outstretched arm and McEneff produced a nerveless chipped penalty straight up the middle of the goal.

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The visitors were buoyed by this and finished the game strongly with Walsh making saves in quick succession to deny Marcus Kane and James Singleton.

But Glentoran weren’t to be denied a second with Kane netting a second goal in added time with a powerful near post header from McEneff’s corner.