31st Dec 02. Glentoran 6 Institute 1
Poor old Institute, that's 15 goals they've conceded against the Glens in 3 games, they must be sick of the sight of us!! And I'll tell you better than that, for long spells in the first half they were the better team!! Anyway, I've had to move the match report to HERE folks, enjoy.
30th Dec 02. New Glens website - North Down GSC are back online. The club had a web presence years ago, even before BallymacGSC.com, but for about a year now their site has been down. I'm delighted to say they have re-launched again under new webmaster Paul Wilson, the more the merrier if you ask me :-) Check it out yourself at this LINK
Irish Cup betting - The betting has just been released for this seasons Irish Cup and the Glens are favourites at 7-4.
Portadown are next at 11-4 while the scum are 4-1. Others include Coleraine (12-1), Omagh (14-1) and Glenavon (20-1).
If you fancy the Welders or Loughgall to go all the way this year you can get them at 500-1 !! All odds supplied by TOALS
Institute game - Coming thick and fast now aren't they! Next up Institute. This is the start too of the final set of 11 games which will decide who makes the top and bottom six before the league splits in two. We've now played everybody twice (bar Cliftonville and the Whites). Institute will be desperate for any points they can get, after a good solid start to the campaign they have recently faultered, and now find themselves 6 points adrift of that sixth place. With that in mind they certainly won't want reminding of their previous encounters with the Glens this season, losing 4-1 at the Oval and 5-1 at their place! Unfortunately for them we need the points every bit as much as they do, I fully expect to get them, and with Institute at odds of 8-1, so it would seem do the bookies!! There should be no room for complacency though, with Portadown showing no signs of letting up this is another must win game, we must get the three points to keep the pressure on. The line-up should be along the same lines as for the Omagh game, with maybe a small doubt surrounding Andy Kilmartin who was replaced near the end. Darren Lockhart should now be recovered from flu though if needed.
Match betting: Glentoran 2/7, Institute 8/1 and a draw 7/2 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers.
28th Dec 02. Glentoran 2 Omagh Town 0
The Omagh match report has now been moved to HERE
27th Dec 02. Omagh Town game - 'THE MOUTH RETURNS' !! Not another Christmas repeat? No just a drum roll for tomorrows visit to the Oval by an embittered gabsh*te and his entourage of anti-Glentoran paparazzi !!
High flying Omagh Town fly into the Oval tomorrow - having failed to win a game in their last 6 they're now flying down the League table!! My God, they're even in danger of being overtaken by Linfield !!
After two away draws the Glens need to get back to winning ways, it's nice not to lose a game of course, but it's worth noting a win and a loss over the last two matches would have yeilded a point more than the 2 we actually picked up ........ sometimes it's better to throw caution to the wind in my opinion. Anyway, despite Portadown hammering Glenavon yesterday we're still only two points adrift of them with a game in hand (away to the Whites). I cant see the Ports slipping up at home to the Crues tomorrow so really we would need to take all 3 from our game with Omagh. McCreadie of course will be on his usual personal crusade for this one, he hates the site of us and would love nothing better than to see us drop back in the title race. All his ranting though cant take away from the fact we are a much better side than Omagh, we destroyed them a few months ago down at their place and although they'll try to raise their game for this one I'm sticking my neck out and backing the Glens to get back on the rails big style! I don't think there are any real injury worries after Boxing Day, Nicky took a knock on the gub when he collided with a post near the end of the game but I reckon he'll make it ok. Dunno what the score is with Locky, if he's still missing it'll probably be the same line-up, although this time I think I'd start with Andy Smith. Whatever - this is one we really must win.
Ps - Don't forget to give Messrs. McCreadie and Bluecom a big Christmas welcome to the Oval now will you ..... wouldn't wanna disappoint them now would we ;-)
Match betting; Glentoran 4/9, Omagh Town 13/2 and a draw 5/2 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
26th Dec 02. Linfield 1 Glentoran 1
A real damp squib folks, both goals coming in the opening 10 minutes and to top it all Portadown duffed Glenavon 5 - nil !!
27th Dec 02. I'd intended putting a match report here this morning, but to be honest there wasn't much to write about, the game had precious few moments of real drama bar the two goals and frankly, if you dont mind, I'd prefer to focus on tomorrows game with Omagh Town. For the record the goals were Larmour (Linfield) 6 mins, and Armour (Glens) 10 mins.
25th Dec 02. MERRY CHRISTMAS :-) A very Merry Christmas to all our visitors - hope everyone got what they wanted this morning ........ Personally I'm happy enough to wait till tomorrow for my Christmas wish ;-)
Linfield game - So, here we go, mixed emotions here or what. Firstly of course we want to win the game. But do we want to win a tight match and keep Fester in a job? Or do we want to absolutely beat the crap outta this lot and surely sound the death knell for the great fat one? ....... Option 2 far as I'm concerned, FTB and lets have a party :-)
The scum are desperate to win this game, so desperate in fact it could be their undoing. If we can ride out what will obviously be an attempt in the opening 15 minutes to kick us off the park, then I believe the game is there. Last week at Coleraine the small bumpy surface made for some very untidy football, but tomorrow the big arena will suit our well versed passing game very nicely thank-you, if we can keep our heads when all around will most certainly be losing theirs then I have no doubt we will get the result. Everyone bar Timothy McCann and Glendinning have reported fit, I fancy Andy Smith to replace Fitzgerald on the bench from last week for the only change. What chance Michael Halliday getting a goal? The big lad has some record against this lot hasn't he, scoring in something like the last 6 meetings!! What would you give for one tomorrow. Like I said earlier, the Glens have yet to lose a Boxing Day derby after scoring a goal, the omens must be good when you consider we've only failed to score 4 times this season out of 25 games! Better still Elliott Morris has now had six clean sheets in our last seven!
Let's not lose sight however of the bigger picture. Portadown travel to neighbours Glenavon tomorrow, if they were to drop anything there, and we get a result, we'd be back top of the league again ........ still with that all important game in hand.
Of course it's always nice to beat the scum, but this season is all about bringing that first title to the Oval since 1999.
Fingers crossed both games go our way and the Christmas celebrations carry on in East Belfast for another wee while :-)
Match betting: Linfield 2/1, Glentoran 6/5 and a draw 11/5 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
24th Dec 02. BOXING DAY ..... TEAM NEWS - Definitely no Timothy McCann, but latest drums say Andy Smith's back training again and could make the team!.
23rd Dec 02. BOXING DAY ..... THE FACTS - This may not make very good reading folks, but anyway, here goes ....
Fact 1: Since the Boxing Day derby game began in 1989 the Glens have only won it ONCE, the first one, 3-2 in 1989 !
Fact 2: Of the 13 Derby games, EIGHT of them have been draws - five of them 1-1 !!
Fact 3: The tie has only ever ended goalless ONCE ...... in 1996 !
Fact 4: The Glens have NEVER scored a goal and LOST a Boxing Day derby !
Fact 5: Of the 14 goals the Glens have scored in total, 13 of them have been from different players, ONLY Andy Kirk
has scored twice, once in 1997 and once in 1998 !
Fact 6: Glentoran have NEVER won the tie at Whinger Park !!
Fact 7: The Glens have YET to win the League after losing a Boxing Day derby !
Fact 8: The last time the Glens won on Boxing Day, PORTADOWN went on to lift the Title !!
BOXING DAY ..... BUSES - The Ballymac will be running TWO buses to the Boxing Day game at Whinger Park. The upper deck of the North Stand has already sold out for the match and bottom deck tickets have now been issued. With the expectation of a VERY large Glentoran travelling support the club have decided to book an extra bus to avoid visitors disappointment. Both buses will leave the clubrooms at 1.45pm and all visitors are very welcome to travel.
23rd Dec 02. Shield draw - You may or may not already be aware the DRAW for the quarter-finals of the County Antrim Shield was made at the weekend. Holders Glentoran must travel to Dixon Park to play Ballyclare on Tuesday 7th Jan.
22nd Dec 02. Coleraine 0 Glentoran 0
The match report can now be found HERE folks. Scoreboard and Players stats pages now updated.
BTW, mighty Distillery duffed the scum 4-1 at Whinger .... that's just the 20 points behind now!! .DJ MUST STAY :-)
20th Dec 02. Collins ban - Micky 'Boo-Hoo I'm not playin any more' Collins has had his appeal turned down and been banned for 7 games! The Premiership is going to be a much safer place without the psycho now till February. UP YOURS
DELIVERANCE! - Just came across a new .......... errrrr..... Portadown website ;-) HERE Better with speakers
19th Dec 02. Coleraine game - Definitely not a happy hunting ground for the Glens of late I can assure you. You have to go way back to season 1999/00 for the last Glentoran win at the Coleraine Showgrounds, 22nd of April 2000 to be exact. We won 2-1 that day with none other than big Ian Gilzean getting the winner - little was he to know that just 2 weeks later he would be getting us another winner, in the Irish Cup Final against the Rednecks!! Anyway, that all seems a long time ago now, in the six games since that 2-1 win the best we've managed up there are three 1-1 draws, the others all ended in defeat - the worst of which I remember all too well one cold night in September, we got absolutely hammered 5-2 and were lucky it wasn't double figures, I certainly don't wanna have to go through that again in a hurry!
I can't see that happening this time though, and even though they are unbeaten in eight games, it's well worth noting four of those have been draws. A lot's being made of their 3-1 tanking of the scum last weekend, quite frankly, given the quality of the current linfield side, I reckon it would have said more about Coleraine if they hadn't tanked them!!
No matter, like I said last week .... lets look to ourselves. This is our first of five games in a fortnight, 3 points tomorrow would set us up very nicely going into the hectic Christmas schedule .... very nicely indeed. I hear we're still without Andy Smith and Timothy McCann, but the players who have came in have done an excellent job, long may it continue.
Match betting: Coleraine 3/1, Glentoran 5/6 and a draw 11/5 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
18th Dec 02. Armstrong quits - Glentoran Seconds goalkeeper Neil Armstrong has told me that as of last Saturday he's decided to call it a day, the big goalie's been plagued by recurring back trouble and says enough is enough. Neil, a diehard Glenman, has been with the Glens for over 10 years, in that time he has won EVERY medal on offer with the First team, League Championship and Steel & Sons Cup medals with the Second team TWICE, and a George Wilson Cup medal THREE TIMES!! He hopes to continue his time at the Oval though by helping coach some of the upcoming youngsters.
I'm sure I speak for all Glentoran supporters in wishing Neil well for the future and thanking him for his many loyal years of service to the wee Cock n' Hens.
17th Dec 02, 10.00pm. Portadown have beaten Cliftonville 3-0 tonight in a League match.
16th Dec 02. Open invitation - A Glenman living in the London area? Fancy a pint before Christmas? Read on .........
All London and South East based Glenmen are invited to a pre-Christmas drink in London town. It will take place this Thursday starting around 6pm in a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, just off Fleet Street. It'll be a chance for all exiled Glenmen in the area to come along and enjoy the craic in one of London's most historic and unusual pubs. It may end there, it may not ........ so bring a toothbrush!! Interested? If so contact Chris Irvine @ cgirvine@yahoo.co.uk for more.
BOXING DAY GAME - If you haven't already gotten your ticket for the Boxing Day derby with the scum get your finger out. Tickets are priced £7 and £3 and are now on sale at Connswater Shopping Centre by the entrance to Dunnes Stores. They are also available from the Oval, Monday - Friday 10.30am to 2.00pm every day bar Wednesday. Other outlets include Dawson's Newsagency on the Belmont Road (opposite the Belmont Bethany Chippy, weekdays 5.30am to 7.30pm and to 4.30pm on Sunday, and in Newtownards, from the Maxol Service Station in Regent Street.
15th Dec 02. Glentoran 3 Ards 0, Omagh 1 Portadown 1, Coleraine 3 the Scum 1 - Boy what a rotten day ;-)
The Match report can now be found HERE.
A personal thank-you - I would just like to put on record my personal thanks to North Down GSC. I was pesented with a framed print of the Oval yesterday from the club for God knows what, I want you all to know it's already got pride of place on the living room wall - the missus is absolutely delighted ;-) Very much appreciated lads ..... thanks again.
13th Dec 02. Wisla for Lazio!! - If Wisla Kraków are to progress to the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Cup they are gonna have to do it the hard way after drawing Italian giants Lazio in the last 16!!
BTW - If Celtic and Liverpool go through in their games against Stuttgart & Auxerre they'll meet in the last eight! DRAW
Ards game - I've gone back seven games till the beginning of 2001/02 and can't find an Ards win over the Glens, they weren't in the Premier League the season before that so God knows when their last victory was - I reckon most of you will remember them for something else though. Twice in the Championship run-in last season Ards came to the Oval, and twice they went away with a draw. A lot of people say that's where we lost the Title, 4 home points thrown away to the side who finished 7 points off at the bottom of the League ........... who am I to argue :-(
If we haven't learned that lesson then we never will.
Ards come to the Oval tomorrow a much improved side from last year, they have already won as many games (6) as they did in all of last season, 3 of them away from home, and are just a point away from that top six spot they'll all want come the split in March.
That said, the Glens are big favourites to take all three points. Depending on how training went last night I can't say for sure how the injury list is looking, Andy Smith, Timothy McCann and Andy Kilmartin could all well be available again, we'll just have to wait and see. I was impressed by the commitment from the team at Lurgan after the Portadown set-back, a lot of people were hoping that the nerves would set in and I for one was delighted they were disappointed. Another result tomorrow would set us up nicely for a few tough games we have coming over the Chritmas period, and sure who knows, Portadown could find it tough enough themselves tomorrow when they go to Omagh who are getting desperate for a win.
Here's to a result for the wee Cock n' Hens no matter what happens elsewhere ;-)
Match betting: Glentoran 3/10, Ards 8/1 and a draw 7/2 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
12th Dec 02. New Year break - For the second year on the trot the Glens will have no game on New Years Day. The match against Institute originally pencilled in for January 1st has now been brought forward to New Years Eve at 2.00pm. The Glens now have 3 games in 6 days over the holiday period after facing the scum (Dec 26th).and Omagh (Dec 28th).
Glens drawn at home in Irish Cup - Glentoran will face Intermediate League side Oxford United Stars at the Oval in the 5th round of the 2002/03 Nationwide Irish Cup. Tie of the round looks to be Portadown versus First Division pace-setters Ballymena United at Shamble Park while the scum's at home to Cliftonville - Matches are on Jan 18th. Full draw HERE
League Cup Final Photo's just on HERE
10th Dec 02, 11.00pm. Glenavon 0 Glentoran 3
Match Report can now be found HERE folks.
So, still top of the League, Portadown beat the scum 1-0 to stay 3 points behind and guess what? ...... they did it with ten men cos Micky Collins got sent off !! Now there's a big surprise!
BTW - Did I tell you I actually feel a bit sorry for Collins? ... No? ............. Well that's because I f***ing dont!!
Up yours Micky, see you some time around March 2003 ;-).
Just as a matter of interest - Wisla Krakow play tonight in the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie with Schalke of Germany. After a 1-1 in Poland they look to have an uphill task to stay in the competition, kick off is 4.30pm UK time so you can still keep up to date with how they're getting on at the 'LIVE' link above before you head off to Lurgan.
Update - Would you believe Wisla won 4-1 in Germany tonight!!
Glenavon game - You're not gonna like this - wanna know how long it's been since we beat Glenavon at Mourneview Park in the League? Seven games ago that's how long - March 1999 to be exact and it was one nil. We have managed a 2-1 win since then though, in the Gold Cup, but even that was over 3 years ago! In the six League games between the sides down there since that one nil result, 5 of them have been draws and the other I'm sure you'll remember we lost 3-0 after borrowing those friggin awful yellow shorts! No, certainly not a very happy hunting ground for us, and with the Lurgan blues hovering just inside the bottom 6 cut-off zone they need all the points they can get!
Well what did you think ....... this League was gonna be easy?
No better time to play it as far as I'm concerned, we need a big game after Saturday's defeat and a result tonight puts us back on track. Timothy McCann is still out so the squad should be the same as the weekend with maybe a bit of juggling up front. If I remember correctly this'll be the first time Andy Smith's been back to Mourneview since he left them to join us, I recall the Glenmen giving Andy a bit of stick the last time we were here cos he stuck out with that head of his .... funny how things pan out. There's always a decent atmosphere when the Glens go to Lurgan, there'll be plenty of Glenmen there and I'm sure if we get behind the team we can come away with a result.
Bit ironic isn't it that the auld enemy could actually do us a favour tonight when they entertain Portadown at Whinger Pk! Mixed thoughts among the scums support for that one I'm sure, but if they were to look at the bigger picture I'm sure they too realise that THEY are too close to the bottom six for comfort and need the points every bit as much as Portadown do.
Anyway, we'll look to ourselves first and hopefully get the win, anything else is a bonus.
Ballymac's bus has been put back and will now leave Wilgar Street at 6.30pm, visitors as usual are very welcome. Check out if there's a bus leaving from somewhere near you at the link above.
Match betting: Glenavon 3/1, Glentoran 4/5 and a draw 9/4 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
8th Dec 02. Portadown 2 Glentoran 0
Match repert can now be found HERE
6th Dec 02. Tickets - As of half past twelve today the Glens have only about 30 tickets left for the Portadown game. The Union Jack Shop got another 100 this morning and if you're lucky you might still get one there. Otherwise ......... that's it!
Roy Coyle and Scott Young have been named Guinness 'Manager & Player of the Month' for November.
Portadown game - Last seven head to heads: Glentoran - won 3, Portadown - won 3, one game ended all square. In only three of those seven games did both teams finish the afternoon with 11 players still on the field. Four of the seven games ended one - nil and the other three had a total of 14 goals between them!! At the Oval it's been one win each and a draw, and at Shamrock Park both sides have won two games apiece. Should be a good day out then shouldn't it ....
....... but then again EVERY Saturday's a good day out now isn't it ;-)
The difference this time is this is one Portadown must not lose, with the wee Glens already 6 points clear of last years Champions another win tomorrow would open up that gap to nine, you can be sure they will be up to EVERYTHING to ensure that doesn't happen ......... and the Glens, backed by a sell-out 1,400 noisey Glenmen will be equally determined to see that it DOES.
After Tuesday's League Cup triumph the Glens will be full of confidence (as if they weren't already), the team have now won their last 13 games on the trot, the last, and ONLY domestic side to beat us, were in fact Portadown believe it or not, way back on the 21st September!! I haven't a clue where we stand team selection wise for this one, I know there would have been quite a few sore ankles after Tuesdays battle, but I don't think there was anything too serious. Timothy McCann I assume is still out, what news of Andy Kilmartin? Whatever the team, if they play the way they did the last time we were down there a few weeks ago in the League Cup Qtr-Final they'll do me. To be fair, nobody has came into the side this season and let us down, everybody seems to be working hard for each other right now and motivation will certainly not be a problem for this one I can assure you! One thing's for sure though, there will be nowhere to hide at Shamrock Park this time, I hear it's to be Leslie Irvine for referee, if so he'll need to be on his friggin toes if we are to avoid the kicking match this lot dished out to us last time!! If the game's played fairly I'm in no doubt we can come away with yet another win.
One final thing - there'll be a lot of us there tomorrow, lets get make a helluva racket right from the off and show this shower of wannabes what REAL supporters are!! Le jeu avant tout.
Ballymac's bus will leave Wilgar Street at 1.30pm, click the link above to see if there's another leaving from near you.
Match betting: Portadown 7/4, Glentoran 6/4 and a draw is 2/1 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
5th Dec 02. LORD OF THE RINGS - THE 'OTHER' TWO TOWERS :-) HERE ( Better withSpeakers)
BTW - just left the Oval, they're working on the drainage and the pitch is full of holes ............ looks like a family of moles have moved in!!
4th Dec 02. Mail's in - click the usual link. More funnies on the Funzine pages too.
3rd Dec 02, 10.55pm. Scum 0 Glentoran 2 - Glentoran, League Cup Champions 2002/2003
I've moved the match report to HERE folks
League Cup Final - Well what's to say really? The scum on their own patch and in a Cup Final too - frankly I can't wait. After getting chucked out of this competition back in October, how sweet would it be if the Glens were to lift the Trophy tonight........ how sweet indeed! The first real opportunity to say up yours eh? The one and only worry I have is the fact the Blues are absoutely desperate! Only the beginning of December and already 16 points behind us in the League has them choking in their pints over the bridge. They can say what they like but you and I both know what this game means to them, if they win it keeps the wolves off Festers back for another wee while, if we win.however ...... and win well ...... lets just say I'd park my car somewhere else tonight if I lived anywhere near Tates Avenue!
Pesonally I'd like nothing better than to beat them about ten, but I've a feeling if that's to have a chance of happening our old friend Mr Snoddy is going to have to be well up for it, cos I've a feeling they'll try to kick lumps out of us.
It looks like poor Timothy McCann's gonna miss out too, it'll be a pity if he does as I believe he's been outstanding so far this season and would have revelled too overlapping on the big playing surface. Far as I'm aware that's it, everybody bar Tim and Mark Glendinning is fit - ironic isn't it that it just happens to be BOTH our left backs! God knows who'll play there now, Leeper maybe? Anyway, as they say, one mans misfotune becomes anothers opportunity. Lets hope we don't begin this one though like we did our last encounter - no two goal starts this time please and I'm sure come 10 o'clock the first piece of silverware of the new season will be well on it's way to the Oval. Kick-off IS 7.45pm.
Match betting: Linfield 15/8, Glentoran 11/8 and a draw 2/1 All odds supplied by TOALS bookmakers
2nd Dec 02. Ports tickets - I've been getting a few enquiries from supporters outside Belfast wanting to know whether or not the Glens will be selling tickets for the Portadown game outside Whinger Pk tomorrow night. The short answer is NO. I've been in touch with the Union Jack shop however and they could well be selling their allocation outside the 'tunnel' entrance on the Boucher Rd, I'm waiting for confirmation later today and I'll let you know. Meanwhile tickets can be purchased all week at the Union Jack shop and everyday bar Wednesday at the Oval between 10.00am and 2.00pm.
1.45pm. Update - The Union Jack Shop WILL be selling Portadown tickets before tomorrow nights League Cup Final
