STORMING START HELPS GLENS CLAIM THE POINTS
Two early goals ensured Glentoran began the year on a winning note with victory over Portadown at The Oval.
The Glens raced into the lead as early as the eighth minute when Hrvoje Plum's free-kick found Patrick McClean who duly sent a looped header over keeper Ben Pierce into the top left corner.
Then, just four minutes later, Jay Donnelly made it 2-0. Rhys Marshall, on his Glentoran debut, delivered a throw-in which Plum then turned towards goal with the rebound falling for Donnelly to slot into the bottom left.
Despite a comfortable lead Glentoran continued to create chances with Plum testing Pierce with a couple of efforts from outside the box before Luke McCullough then had a go forcing the keeper into gathering at the second attempt.
Portadown did have an opening late in the first half but Stephen Murray could only fire past the right post from the edge of the box, and again with a header not long after the break.
Robbie McDaid might have extended Glentoran's lead with a header from a Plum cross but, as the game progressed, the Ports stepped up a gear Stephen Teggart and Greg Hall having shots that went over.
The Ports were rewarded for their efforts with nine minutes remaining, however, when Adam Salley hooked the ball home from close range after connecting with a corner.
But they couldn't force a second goal in the time left and, indeed, almost conceded a third when substitute Dale Gorman and then McDaid threatened in stoppage time.
Glentoran: Brown, Kane, McCullough, Bigirimana, Gallagher, McDaid, McClean, Marron, Plum, Marshall, J. Donnelly subs McDonagh (not used), Gorman (replaced Gallagher 76), O'Neill (replaced J. Donnelly 77), R. Donnelly (not used), Clucas (not used), O'Connor (not used), Coleing (not used)
Portadown: Pierce, Hall, McCallum, Finnegan, Tipton, Bonis, Murray, Wilson, Teggart, Healy, Tilney subs Pengelly (not used), McKeown (replaced Teggart 68), Lavery (not used), Salley (replaced Murray 62), Conaty (replaced Tipton 68), Kerr (not used), Carmichael (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
