The teams lining out for last night’s friendly between Derry City and Glentoran at the Oval, Belfast
A goal in the 43rd minute from Derry City’s Barry McNamee decided lsst night’s re-arranged friendly game against Glentoran at the Oval.
The game started slowly in front of a sparse crowd and there were 10 minutes on the clock before the first effort on goal.
Glens player David Scullion shot over from the edge of the box.
Nine minutes later Stephen Rice brought a fine stop out of Derry keeper Gerard Doherty in the visitors goal.
But the game was pulled back as the official on the far side adjudged Rice to be in an offside position.
Derry City’s first real attempt on goal came on 21 minutes with a free kick whipped into the Glentoran penalty area.
Aaron Barry got his head to the ball but couldn’t direct it on target.
Midway through the first half Rory Patterson had the ball in the net for Derry but he had already been flagged offside.
On 27 minutes Glentoran had a lucky escape when Barry McNamee found himself free in the penalty area.
However, Glens keeper Elliott Morris blocked the attempt with his feet.
Ten minutes later McNamee had another chance but his 20 yard effort was well off target.
A minute after that saw the Glens almost take the lead.
Danny McKee got to the bye line but his driven cross-shot was turned wide for a corner by Ryan McBride.
Two minutes from the interval Derry City went in front.
The Candy Stripes broke down the left and when the ball was fired across goal, the home defence failed to clear it and Barry McNamee netted from close range.
In the second half Glentoran nearly levelled but Steven Gordon’s 20 yard shot was just too high.
On 49 minutes a cross from McCullough was met by Gordon but his header deflected off a defender and went out for a corner.
Three minutes later the dangerous Rory Patterson almost made it 2-0 but his shot came back off the post.
Patterson went close on 74 minutes with a glancing header which went wide of the far upright.
Eight minutes from time a through ball from Glentoran’s Ciaran Caldwell seemed to have set up a great chance for Steven Gordon to equalise.
The Glentoran player seemed to be held back in the area but the referee waved away the penalty appeals.
On 85 the game was nearly levelled when David Scullion’s shot was deflected just wide of the goal and moments later the referee blew the final whistle.
It was a good run out for Kenny Shiels’s players ahead of the start of the SSE Airtricity Premier league next month.
Their first game is away to Finn Harps on Friday, March 4.
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