Glentoran 1 - 1 Institute
Keith Gillespie found the net for the first time in Irish League football but Glentoran were denied all three points by a spirited Institute side who battled for a share of the spoils at the Oval.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
The champions went behind to a Kevin Ramsey strike in the first half and it took until the 70th minute when Gillespie volleyed home for the Glens to get back into the game.
Although they had the lion's share of the possession, Institute stood firm to take a well-earned point.
Institute went into a shock lead after 13 minutes when Declan Divin's run and cross found Ramsey in the box and he turned his man before firing home an unstoppable shot past James Taylor in the Glens goal.
The Glens had been patiently trying to find a way past the Stute defence up to that point with some neat passing but were finding the visitors impenetrable.
Only Colin Nixon really came close to scoring for the champions in the first half as he hooked an overhead kick towards goal after a scramble in the box but it went over.
Ex-Glentoran star Shaun Holmes showed he had not lost any of his ability from set-pieces on 26 minutes when his left foot effort from 25 yards skimmed just wide of the post.
Then two minutes later the lights went out at the Oval causing a 17-minute delay with the ground plunged into darkness.
After the teams reappeared Glentoran again had the bulk of the play but did precious little with it while at the other end, Declan Divin let fly with a great volley which caused a few hearts to flutter in the home support - the winger's effort going tantalisingly wide.
After the break it was all Glentoran but they could not find a way past the disciplined Institute defence.
That was until the 70th minute when from Johnny Black's cross, Gillespie powered home a left-foot volley for his first goal in Irish League football.
That was as good as it got for the Glens though and apart from a late header from Daryl Fordyce and a shot into the side netting from Richard Clarke, the east Belfast men had nothing to show for their effort but a disappointing point.
© UTV News