CLINICAL GLENS MOVE INTO TOP SIX
Glentoran swept to a composed and controlled victory over Portadown at Shamrock Park.
The visitors needed just two minutes to open the scoring after recent signing Conor McMenamin sent a right-footed volley past Jacob Carney after being teed up by Robbie McDaid.
Portadown responded positively to going behind with Stephen Teggart flicking on a Sam Warde free-kick which Dayle Coleing only gathered at the second attempt while Ruairi Croskery saw an effort palmed away after getting on the end of a Greg Hall cross.
Glentoran almost doubled their advantage on 24 minutes with what would have been McMenamin's second of the evening only for the ball strike an upright and go across the face of goal after Hrvoje Plum had delivered the cross from the right.
It was 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. Portadown defender Greg Hall was adjudged to have handled the ball as he tussled with McDaid to get to a Jay Donnelly cross. Not only did Hall concede the penalty but he was also sent-off to reduce the Ports to ten men. Then, once the dust had settled, Plum stepped up to convert the spot-kick despite Carney getting a touch.
McMenamin might have added a third soon after with a low shot into the side netting while, not long after that, Carney saved from Donnelly with Plum unable to make the subsequent loose ball count. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Dale Gorman came close with a lobbed effort from the edge of the box which went just over.
Plum was denied Glentoran's third goal early in the second half when his fierce cross was well turned away by Carney.
But, almost straightaway at the other end, Lee Bonis pulled one back for the Ports after dispossessing Patrick McClean before going past the advancing Coleing to slot into the empty net.
Glentoran looked to restore their two-goal lead soon after with McMenamin seeing an effort turned around an upright and Donnelly having a goalbound finish blocked by George Tipton.
However, the Glens did extend their advantage again on 66 minutes after Plum did well to find the space to deliver a low ball into the box for Donnelly to slot home from close range.
Another chance presented itself when McDaid found himself free inside the box but he uncharacteristically dragged the ball wide before, with ten minutes remaining, Ports defender Eamon Scannell headed the ball off the line just as it was destined for the top corner.
Portadown: Carney, Hall, McCallum, Finnegan, McKeown, Bonis, Croskery, Guy, Teggart, Warde, Scannell subs Buchanan (not used), Lavery (not used), Tipton (replaced McKeown 46), Murray (not used), Conaty (replaced Tipton 70), Kerr (replaced Guy 31), Healy (not used)
Glentoran: Coleing, Kane, McCullough, Gallagher, Gorman, McDaid, McClean, McMenamin, Plum, Marshall, J. Donnelly subs Bigirimana (replaced Plum 76), Stewart (not used), Clucas (not used), Brown (not used), O'Connor (replaced Gorman 68), Smith (replaced Gallagher 88), Crowe (not used)
Substitution 
Substitution 
