Glentoran Too Strong for Ayr.

Ayr United Northern Ireland tour of 2002 continued when they took on a Glentoran side who the previous season had qualified for Europe.

This report of the game is from an Irish perspective.

Roy Coyle's panel for this friendly contained nine substitutes and the initial line-up included at No 5 Gary Haveron, an Northern Ireland under 21 international on trial from Yeovil Town. The Glens took an early lead after the visiting keeper spilled a Darren Fitzgerald shot and defensive hesitation allowed Andy Smith to nip in and poke home from close range.

There were flashes of skill in a low-key affair and 20 minutes passed before Glentoran almost increased their lead through Paul Leeman whose volley was only just wide. In between Ayr's Eddie Annand held his head in disbelief, and he had every right to, after missing an open goal. Darren Fitzgerald glanced a header wide and so the interval score give the Glens a single goal lead.

Mark Glendinning missed an excellent opportunity to increase the lead but pulled his low drive wide when well placed inside the penalty area after Ayr had struggled to clear. Ayr's replacement keeper made an excellent save to deny Darren Armour with a good block and the Glens were to missed a few other chances to put a bit of light between the sides.

Ayr almost caught the Glens with a sucker punch close to the end but Glentoran more than deserved this single goal victory with a number of young players showing promise for the future. Among them Andrew Kilmartin from the Seconds and Damian Curran who is also on trial (Everton).

GLENTORAN: Morris, Nixon, Glendinning, Walker, Haveron, Leeman, McCann (1), McCann (2), Smith, Fitzgerald, Lockhart.

Subs: Armstrong, Smyth, Halliday, Hunter, Curran, Armour, Kilmartin, McKeown, Walsh.

AYR UNITED: Nelson, Nicolson, Covering, McManus, Campbell, Craig, Chaplin, Cosgrove, Annand, Grady, Sheerin.

Subs: Kean, Black, Latta, McVeigh, Dodds, Dunlop.

Referee: John Fielding

(The report is produced by permission of Glentoran.net