Glentoran score late to draw at Coleraine

Jordan Stewart scored an 88th minute equaliser as Duncan Ferguson got his Glentoran reign up and running with a 1-1 draw at Coleraine on Friday night.

The little winger nipped in unmarked at the back post to head home a Ryan Cooney cross with just minutes remaining to rescue a point for the Glens.

In truth, it should have never come to that as Ruaidhri Higgins’ side passed up a number of good opportunities to bag all three points in an entertaining encounter at the Showgrounds.

Joel Cooper fired the hosts in front midway through the first half with a trademark piece of individual brilliance.

Collecting the ball on the edge of the Glentoran penalty area the former Linfield man silenced his detractors in the away end with an exquisitely placed shot high into the roof of the net past Andrew Mills.

Cooper was denied a second seconds after half-time when his effort was ruled out for offside before Matthew Shevlin came within the width of the woodwork to doubling the home side’s lead.

Shrugging off the attentions of his marker, the striker fired across goal only for his effort to rebound off the base of a post before being hacked clear by the Glentoran defence.

That proved to be the turning point.

A second goal at that stage and there was no way back for Duncan Ferguson’s side who had been second best up until that point.

But, buoyed by their let off, they came more into the game, dominating possession and carrying an attacking threat for the first time.

And they were rewarded for their efforts with just minutes remaining as Stewart - so often the scourge of Coleraine - did it again, scoring at the back post, to make it a satisfactory evening for Duncan Ferguson and his players.

For the big Scot it was a satisfactory introduction to the Irish League.

Less so for his opposite number who will reflect on chances missed and ultimately two points dropped in an increasingly competitive league.