THOMSON BREAKS HOME HEARTS ON GLENS DEBUT
Joe Thomson marked his Glentoran debut in style with both goals as the visitors hit back to defeat Loughgall at Lakeview Park.
The Villagers broke the deadlock midway through the first half courtesy of Nathaniel Ferris' close range finish after Ben Murdock knocked a free-kick that had been cleared back into his path.
Frankie Hvid came close to levelling for the Glens after half-an-hour but his could only direct his glancing header just wide.
Danny Amos also threatened early in the second half from David Fisher's lay-off while, a little later at the other end, Robbie Norton was denied only be a Hvid clearance on the line.
But Glentoran did equalise with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with Thomson's first of the afternoon, a stunning strike from outside the area that ended up going beyond keeper Nathan Gartside into the bottom corner.
Loughgall almost regained the lead in the closing minutes only for Glens keeper Daniel Gyollai to be in inspired form to first deny Ryan Waide before pulling off a miracle save to stop Ferris from point blank range.
Then, in a dramatic turn of events, Glentoran were awarded a spot-kick with two minutes to go after Murdock was adjudged to have handled in the area with Thomson keeping his cool to step up to convert and secure the points for the visitors.
Loughgall: Gartside, Rea, Murdock, Ferris, Norton, Gibson, Balde, Mahon, Carroll, Towe, McCaffrey subs Turker, Andrade, Waide, O’Brien, Francis, Boyd, McCloskey
Glentoran: Gyollai, Lyons-Foster, Hvid, Palmer, Aouachria, Thomson, Coll, Fisher, Lindsay, Amos, Russell subs Mills, Kane, Murphy, Douglas, Johnson, Smyth, Thorndike
Substitution 
Substitution 
