Given the horrendous weather conditions over the weekend the Lisburn Distillery ground staff deserve a huge amount of credit for producing a perfect playing surface for tonight’s Paddy Power Co. Antrim Shield semi-final.

There were a number of changes to the Glentoran starting XI with Aaron Hogg replacing Elliott Morris in goals, Johnny Taylor coming in at left back in place of flu victim Jason Hill, Richard Clarke returning to midfield for Ciaran Martyn and Andy Waterworth starting in place of Jim O’Hanlon.

The Whites started the game strongly with Mark Cooling forcing Aaron Hogg into a save with just 4 minutes on the clock. Jordan Forsythe tried his luck from long range (7) but his effort was well off target. Former Lisburn Distillery player, Andy Waterworth had the Glens first attempt on goal but his angled drive (9) was easily held by Andrew Dickey. On 12 minutes Glentoran went in front. Waterworth’s shot from the edge of the area was palmed into the air by Dickey and Richard Gibson headed the ball home. The same two players linked up again a minute later this time Gibson finding Waterworth who drove the ball across goal and past the far post. Lisburn Distillery centre back, Andy Hunter almost levelled things when he got on the end of a corner (16) but his header just cleared the bar. Glentoran thought they’d doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Stephen Carson ran on to Gary Hamilton’s pass and beat Dickey only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. On the half hour a left wing cross from Carson was met by Gibson who deflected the ball away from the better placed Sean Ward. The ball broke to the edge of the area and Waterworth’s drive was turned away for a corner by the Whites’ keeper. A Gary Thompson effort resulted in a corner for the home team (33) and the Glentoran defence were lucky to scramble the ball clear. A minute from the break Gary Hamilton should have made it 2-nil. A great right wing cross from Ward found Hamilton at the back post but he headed narrowly over. In stoppage time Hamilton threaded a great ball through for Clarke. He beat the keeper and nearly squeezed the ball in from almost on the by-line.

Five minutes after the restart Larmour won a corner for Distillery. It was played short to David Cushley but his shot was deflected over the crossbar. From the resulting set piece Aaron Traynor went close. On 55 minutes Cushley turned well in the box and shot. Aaron Hogg produced an outstanding save though to deny the Whites an equaliser. Three minutes later Glentoran stretched their lead. Hamilton’s cross found Waterworth who laid the ball back to Clarke. His pass found Sean Ward on the corner of the area and he skipped past a defender before firing the ball across the keeper and into the far corner. It was Ward’s first goal since 3rd February 2009! On the hour mark the Glens conceded a free kick on the edge of their penalty area. Mark Cooling stepped up and drilled the ball past the wall and beyond Hogg to bring the Whites back into the game. On 66 minutes we had what was probably the defining moment of the game. A great left wing cross from Cushley was met by Davy Larmour. His header went inches wide and within a minute Glentoran went up field and made it 3-1. A deep Carson corner from the right found Johnny Taylor at the back post and his header back across goal was nodded in by Gibson. On 77 minutes the Glens made the game safe. Richard Clarke was fouled in midfield. The free kick was quickly taken and Gibson played a one, two with Jim O’Hanlon before slotting the return past Dickey for his hat trick A couple of minutes later the big striker left the field to a standing ovation to be replaced by Darren Boyce. Four minutes from time Sean Ward found O’Hanlon on the right. He took the ball to the by line before cutting it back to substitute, Kyle Cherry who netted his first goal for the Glens.

So Scott Young’s has guided his team to another final and Glentoran have the chance to retain the Paddy Power Co. Antrim Shield in the final to be played on Tuesday 29th November 2011.

Glentoran: Hogg, Ward, Taylor, Nixon (capt), Callacher, Howland, Clarke, Waterworth, Carson, Gibson & Hamilton.
Subs: O’Hanlon for  Waterworth (62), Boyce for Gibson (79) and Cherry for Howland (81)

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