It’s All To Play For At Park Hall, As A Leo Smith Wonder Goal Secures A 1-1 Draw In Belfast

Match Report

https://twitter.com/tnsfc/status/1413181130254266373?s=20

Goals: Smith (13)
Yellow cards: Cieslewicz (36)
Substitutions: Williams for Clark (71), Robles for McManus (81), Cornish for Cieslewicz (90+1)

Match report by Sam Wood

It’s all to play for next week, as Glentoran and The New Saints played out a 1-1 draw in Belfast in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie.

After Leo Smith had sensationally given his side the lead with 13 minutes played, an equaliser from Jamie McDonagh, eight minutes from time, sets up an enticing affair at Park Hall Stadium next Thursday.

It was a strong start from the Northern Irish hosts, as they put The Saints under pressure from the opening whistle. Debutant, Morgan Daykin, was called into action with five minutes played, pulling off a crucial interception to prevent McMenamin from causing problems.

Surviving the early pressure, The Saints began to grow into the game, and both Leo Smith and Adrian Cieslewicz enjoyed half-chances in the seventh and eighth minutes.

Buoyed by that initial effort, Smith sensationally broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a spectacular solo goal. Collecting the ball midway into the Glentoran half, the number 21 carried the ball past five defenders, before sending a composed effort past the goalkeeper, much to the shock of the 978 home supporters.

Down the other end, Daykin was involved again, making an important challenge to prevent a Glens break, before some equally good defending by Patrick Mcclean stopped Declan McManus from unleashing a shot at goal.

Again the youngster continued to impress, and he showed great strength to outmuscle McMenamin on the edge of his penalty area just minutes before the break.

In first-half stoppage time, the hosts came agonisingly close to an equaliser, but Robbie McDaid failed to convert what looked an easy finish, sending the ball wide from five yards out.

The Saints were on the back foot for large parts of the second period, and had to rely on captain, Paul Harrison, to make a number of crucial saves. The pick of the bunch came in the 71st minute, when the former Liverpool man acrobatically clawed away Rory Donnelly’s header. 

It would’ve been some feat for The Saints to come away with the win, and they came agonisingly close, conceding an equaliser with eight minutes to go. 

It was slightly unfortunate for Harrison – who’d put in a man-of-the-match performance on the night – as, after a good initial save, the ball rebounded kindly to Jamie McDonagh, who made no mistake from close range.

It was backs against the walls stuff in the closing stages, as Glentoran continued to pepper The Saints goal, but Limbrick’s side showed great resolve to hold onto their draw, which puts them in a strong position to finish the job next week in Oswestry.