Glentoran 3 - 0 Bray Wanderers
Credit:
Glentoran cruised into the quarter-finals of the Setanta Cup with a comprehensive victory over Bray Wanderers at the Oval to reward care-taker boss Roy Coyle in his final game in charge.
Two goals by Darren Boyce, one a second half penalty, and another by Colin Nixon saw them defeat Pat Devlin's men 3-0 on the night and 7-2 on aggregate.
An early goal would have given the League of Ireland side some hope and when Dean Zambra lined up a free-kick from 20 yards in the second minute the small band of travelling supporters briefly entertained thoughts of a comeback.
The free-kick was knocked over the bar and from that moment on the Glens looked the sharper outfit with Stephen Carson and Jim O’Hanlon prominent down either flank.
The opening goal came on the 12th minute when Carson whipped in a free-kick that was hopelessly misjudged by Darren Quigley in the Wanderers goal and then headed in by the grateful Boyce at the back post.
Shortly after the dangerous looking O’Hanlon pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by Eamonn Murray.
Bray were struggling to get any kind of foothold in the game and although Kieran Waters was trying hard up front the home defence was comfortably on top for the vast majority of half.
Waters did cause some confusion in the Glens defence with a mazy run on the 20 minute mark which resulted in a corner from which Danny O’Connor could have done better with his header.
As the game moved into the second quarter the visitors at last began to string a few passes together but they did not threaten Elliot Morris’s goal.
As the half drew to a close Glentoran were again in the ascendancy and a couple of Carson corners had the Wanderers defence scrambling to clear their lines as first Boyce and then Jonathan Kelty nearly capitalised.
The home fans could sense a goal and were out of their seats when Andrew Waterworth rounded the keeper only to see his cross cleared away for a corner.
The Belfast outfit would not be denied however, as another good delivery from Stephen Carson was headed home by the captain, Colin Nixon.
Glentoran started the second in the same vein with Carson unlucky not to meet a cross as Andrew Waterworth turned provider.
Pat Devlin put on Jason Byrne at half time and finally something began to stick up front. Byrne rifled a shot over the bar after 48 minutes and the introduction of the former Irish international seemed to galvanise his team mates and provide the industrious Waters with some much needed assistance.
Bray now looked a better team and the game took on a pleasing end to end quality typified by a passage of play as we approached the hour mark. Danny O’Connor nipped in to dispossess the home defence and when his tame shot was saved the goalkeeper found Waterworth with his clearance and he whipped a great ball across the Wanderers goal.
The impressive Waters then saw his header saved before a wonderful turn by the 21 year old almost played in Byrne.
The Seagulls were battling hard but all too often they were undone by a simple ball over the top and when Nixon delivered one with 15 minutes to go Dane Massey bundled Andrew Waterworth to the ground and the referee awarded a penalty which Boyce blasted down the middle to seal the tie.
Jason Byrne tried gamely to gain a consolation, seeming injuring himself in the process, but it was not to be, leaving Devlin to contemplate what could, for him at least, be a long summer ahead.
Glentoran: Elliott Morris; Sean Ward, Jason Hill, Colin Nixon, Calum Birney (David Howland 46 (Aidan O'Kane 63)); Jimmy Callacher, Richard Clarke, Stephen Carson, Jim O'Hanlon (Eamonn Murray 14); Darren Boyce, Andrew Waterworth.
Subs Not Used: Richard Gibson, Aaron Hogg, Jamie McGovern, Martin Murray.
Bray Wanderers: Darren Quigley; David Webster, Adam Mitchell (Pierce Sweeney, 46) Dane Massey, Kevin Knight; Adam O'Hanlon, Danny O'Connor, Dean Zambra, Sean Houston (Graham Kelly, 64), Jonathan Kelty (Jason Byrne, 46); Kieran Marty Waters.
Subs Not Used: Brian Kane, Stephen Brennan, Conor Butler, Colm Tresson.
Referee: Colin Burns.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Carson.
