Late goal denies Blues

Linfield had turned the game around after trailing 1-0 at the break and appeared to be on their way to a morale boosting three points.

"We are very disappointed at conceding a goal so late in the game," said boss David Jeffrey. "I think we did more than enough to win the game and after a fairly even first half we took control in the second and played some excellent stuff. We scored two goals and their keeper made two stunning saves to keep them in it.

"In the end we can be very proud of the performance and that is the level we must try and attain each and every game from here on in."

Jeffrey called on 'old hands' Noel Baile and William Murphy in the heart of defence and they earned praise from the boss. "The old boys did well. But I had no fears about puting them in and they did not let me down. Up front Peter Thompson was immense and to be honest had he not stayed on his feet on two occasions we might well have won a penalty. In midfield we grew strong especially in the second half and that helped turn the game."

Jeffrey went into the huge game rubbishing rumours he was close to quitting the club which has taken just 1 point from a possible 12.

"Rumours are just rumours. I just concentrate on the football," said Jeffrey. "I have been here before. There is a lot of mischief making going on but I am no quitter.

"I want to be manager of Linfield as long as I can possibly be, but I do not want to be in the job a day longer than I should be. That is for others to decide. I did not offer to resign and I am fully focused on steering this club to more success."

As for the game, around 7,000 fans turned out for yet another epic enouncter between the Belfast giants.

Glentoran had a goal disallowed after six minutes. Hamilton pulled down William Murphy before firing home. At the other end Thompson flicked a header into the path of Paul Munster but his shot was too weak to trouble Taylor.

Glentoran were using pace on both flanks and after creating a couple of good chances they did take the lead on 26 minutes. Keith Gillespie crossed from the right, Burrows rolled the ball into the patch of Fordyce and his crisp shot flew wide of Stuart Addis.

The home side continued to press or the remainder of the half with Linfield staging a late rally and forcing a series of corners.

Philip Lowry was brought off the bench to add some bite to midfield and it certainly worked as Linfield took command of the game. A great ball from Curran was met by Munster and his header seeming to be destined for the net when Taylor somehow reacted to tip it away for a corner.

From the corner there was a scramble and Thompson lashed at the ball which came off Sean Ward and into the net. The Blues were back in the game on 50 minutes.

Four minutes later and they were ahead after a swift and clinical move. Munster fed Thompson in the box and the NI striker did brilliantly to shake off Leeman and fire across the goal to the unmarked Jamie Tomelty who blasted the ball home from close range.

The woodwork came to the rescure for Linfield soon after when Hamilton connected and the ball clipped off Billy Joe Burns and off the bar to safety.

Jamie Tomelty was giving Linfield plenty of width on the left and he had a good run on 75 minutes but couldn't keep his final shot down. Sub Stephen Douglas played a great through ball to Paul Munster on 79 minutes but the striker pulled his shot wide of the target.

Taylor again produced a telling save on 86 minutes when he got down to keep out a firm drive from Munster after good work by Thompson. That proved crucial as the Glens went down to the other end and Addis spilled a shot from Fordyce it was Hamilton who got to the ball first to lift his shot high into the net to make it 2-2.