Living Up To Expectations - Glentoran vs. Carrick Rangers

One of the areas of cover at The Oval

When I went to Belfast last year, the main reason to visit was to see Glentoran play at The Oval but a late change for TV meant I missed out, not to say I didn't enjoy my visit to Crusaders. So again on League Cup Final weekend I headed back to finally see a game at this stunning ground. You'll see from the pictures how much of a belter it really is. Tonight, third place Glentoran were playing Carrick Rangers who were comfortably above the drop zone following promotion last season. The hosts had lost two of their last three games in the league which had seen them drop four points behind Linfield so they really needed a win tonight.

Kick off at The Oval

The game sadly didn't match the ground. The first chance of the game is a dipping half volley that the Carrick Rangers goalie does well to beat away at his near post. Glentoran continue make openings but the Carrick Rangers keeper isn't really seriously tested. Carrick Rangers have the first real chance of the half as the Glentoran keeper tips a dipping shot over the bar. Glentoran rally in the closing stages forcing the keeper into another near post save this time from a close range header before Carrick Rangers almost seal the points when the attacker hits the post when one on one with the keeper.

Home terracing behind the goal

To fly to Belfast I went from London City to Belfast City which took around an hour and The Oval is then a half hour walk away. If you're coming from the city centre then it is either a forty odd minute walk or a ten minute ride on the frequent G1 bus to five minutes away from The Oval. Near the ground I visited The Great Eastern which was very welcoming and had the sports channels. Across the road is the brilliant Boundary Brewery where many of their beers were sampled. It is the first industrial unit on the right past the gates, it isn't well advertised to the outside world. The bar in the first floor of the main stand had the standard lagers and the sports channels. So what else can be said about The Oval. It really is an absolute of a monster of a ground, everywhere you look there is another photo opportunity and on top of this everyone is very friendly. Well worth coming back for.

Sadly the only programme of the trip

View of the far terrace from the back of the stand