Hibernian FC Match Reports
Glentoran 0 Hibernian 2
Pre-Season Challenge
25 July 2009

Hibernian made a first-ever visit to the Oval Grounds in Belfast this afternoon as John Hughes continued pre-season preparations with a trip to Ireland, Shamrock Rovers awaiting his side in Dublin on Monday. The manager named a strong side that many would expect as being not far from his first eleven come the start of the SPL campaign in three weeks time.

Around 250 Hibernian supporters occupied the terracing behind Yves Ma-Kalambay as Hibernian got the game underway to noisy accompaniment of the home support and their drum-leader. Nish was first to test the home goalkeeper as he tried to bend the ball into the far corner, his effort was however lacking power and easily held by Morris. Hibernian did not wait long however - 2 minutes into the game Zemmama burst into the right of the area and unleashed a cracker that bulged the top corner of the net.

It was an ideal start from the visitors but did nothing to silence the home support who immediately predicted a 2-1 win in their favour! The early play was not reflecting as much, with Zemmama continuing to find space and posing a constant threat. Glentoran however did well on 7 minutes when Hall sent in a teasing ball that Ma-Kalambay had to watch carefully as it drifted wide. Zemmama however almost doubled the advantage, clever footwork and control 18 yards out causing problems before he slipped an effort inches wide of the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Glentoran earned their first corner in the 12 minute, McBurnie's first effort cleared by Hogg - and his second easily held by Ma-Kalambay. The home side were seeing a little more of the ball with a quarter of an hour gone, but the Hibernian back four were protecting their goalkeeper well. Hibernian however should have gone 2-0 up when Van Zanten was released on the right of the area, his cut-back was perfect for Nish who was in acres of space - but volleyed over the bar from six yards.

Zemmama again caused problems for the home side 60 seconds later, bursting clear on the right of the area he tried to cut back to Nish - however Nixon managed to intercept. That however only went as far as Zemmama who tried to beat Morris at his left post, the goalkeeper getting down well to touch the effort away. Nish took a tumble 20 yards out on 22 minutes, providing Hibernian with a free-kick opportunity - Riordan won the dispute with Zemmama over who should take it, and the ball flew into the corner of the net.

That goal was Riordan's first from a free-kick since his return to Hibernian in January, and it was an effort that was certainly appreciated by the small band of visiting supporters. Glentoran had a similar opportunity at the other end five minutes on, Hogg fouling Burrows 25 yards from goal - Black's effort did not have the finesse of his Hibernian counterpart however and the ball was blocked by the Hibernian wall at the expense of a fruitless corner. At the other end Hanlon, not for the first time, found an acre of space on the left, his cross was just blocked for a corner.

On 29 minutes Rankin gave the ball away to Burrows leaving him clear on goal - Ma-Kalambay came to the rescue however, coming out quickly to block the resulting shot. Zemmama again created space for himself on the right, forcing another Hibernian corner after 38 minutes, the little midfielder taking that himself looking for Nish at the near post, the striker however could not turn the ball towards goal and took a knock for his troubles.

A timely interception from Nixon again stopped Nish from breaking free on goal as the final five minutes of the half was reached, the Hibernian striker getting his head to the resulting corner but unable to nod down to his intended target, Derek Riordan. Riordan next linked up well with Nish just outside the area, the former ending the move with a shot that was straight into the arms of Morris. Burrows came close for Glentoran just before the interval, Halliday springing an offside trap to deliver a great ball from the left that his team-mate just failed to connect with when free 8 yards from goal. That was the last action of the half, Hibernian well satisfied and deserving of their lead - but the manager will no doubt have had a few words to say about some of their passing, which at timed lacked the penetration and accuracy he is seeking.

Half Time: Glentoran 0 Hibernian 2

Glentoran made a few changes at the interval as they sought a way back into the game, while John Hughes kept his substitutes on the bench for the time being. Zemmama and one of the home subs, Callacher, had an early disagreement when the Hibs man took a heavy late challenge. Referee Moutray settled for a lengthy lecture to both players.

Zemmama took another late tackle a few minutes later, Glentoran perhaps recognizing the damage inflicted on them by the Moroccan in the opening 45 minutes. Hanlon broke free down the left 8 minutes into the half, sending in a teasing low cross that Nish connected to but managing to send his effort just wide of sub goalkeeper Taylor's right hand post. Riordan broke down the left and sent an inch-perfect ball to Nish six yards out - the striker however had drifted just offside and in any case his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Hanlon was proving very effective and again got behind the home defence, his cross blocked this time for a corner. Goalkeeper Taylor only just managed to tip that off the head of Nish at the back post. Glentoran had come out in the second half with a great deal more fight about them, although they were still finding it difficult to force a way through the Hibernian defence. Just after the hour mark Hibernian made several changes, just after the home side had came close with a Neill header just over the bar. Nish, Zemmama and Van Zanten came off for Byrne, Galbraith and McCormack were the changes called by John Hughes.

Hibernian had shown little in attack in the second period but were containing the home side comfortably enough, with the game taking on a typical pre-season persona as the final 20 minutes approached. Ian Murray and Steven Thicot were introduced for Riordan and Cregg after 27 minutes of the half, just before Hanlon was sent free by Byrne, the full-back getting a shot in that was well blocked by Taylor. From the resulting corner, Chris Hogg sent a header back into the area where Byrne looped a header just over the bar and on to the top of the net.

A great cross from Galbraith on the right sought out Byrne, the striker however was just under the ball and could not direct it to goal from 8 yards out. Bamba had to go off injured as the final fifteen minutes approached, Hibernian down to ten men and with no further substitutes available other than goalkeeper Thomas Flynn. Ian Murray dropped back from midfield to cover the vacant central defence position.

Into the final ten minutes and a long-range effort from Hamilton was well over the bar as the home side continued to try and make some impression on a resolute Hibernian defence. John Rankin required treatment for a head-knock but he quickly recovered, allaying fears that the Easter Road side would need to see out the closing minutes with 9 men. The visitors were seeing out the final minutes content to protect their advantage, and in spite of their numerical disadvantage they did that comfortably.

Glentoran: Morris, Nixon, Neill, Clarke, Fordyce, Halliday, Burrows, Fitzgerald, Black, McBurnie, Hall. Subs: Taylor(gk), McCabe, Hamilton, Waterworth, Southam, Callacher, Harris.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Hanlon, Hogg, Bamba, McBride, Zemmama, Cregg, Nish, Riordan, Rankin. Subs: Flynn(gk), Murray, McCormack, Byrne, Galbraith, Thicot.

Referee: Trevor Moutray