Glens knock holders Linfield out as Crues advance

Teenager James Douglas scored a late winner for Glentoran as they knocked holders Linfield out of the BetMcLean Cup in the round of 16.

Douglas – who was sent off in the league game a fortnight ago – struck the game’s only goal in the rearranged encounter at Windsor Park with three minutes remaining to give the Glens their third win over their Big Two rivals this season.

Glentoran, who last won his competition in 2010, will face Ballymena United in the quarter-final.

But it is more derby disappointment for David Healy’s side having lost 3-1 to the Glens at Windsor Park in October before a 1-0 defeat at the Oval on 22 November.

In Tuesday’s quarter-final, Kieran Offord scored a hat-trick as Crusaders beat Dungannon Swifts 4-2 after extra-time in a highly entertaining game at Seaview.

In a slow first half at Windsor Park, the first save either keeper made came just after 20 minutes when David Fisher forced a low stop from Chris Johns.

A Fuad Sule clearance when Chris McKee threatened was followed by speculative long-range efforts from Glentoran’s Aaron Wightman and James Singleton.

Linfield started the second half with more intent and Joel Cooper came close just two minutes after the restart when his low effort fizzed wide from the edge of the box.

A couple of minutes later, returning midfielder Stephen Fallon forced a Daniel Gyollai save from a well-worked set-piece routine before Donnelly volleyed wide after a free kick at the other end.

Most of the home fans were on their feet just after the hour when Cooper went through one-on-one with Gyollai only for the Glens stopper to turn the ball around the post for a corner.

The decisive moment arrived three minutes from time when 18-year-old Douglas pounced on an attempted Linfield clearance with his deflected volley beating Johns to complete his redemption and spark ecstatic scenes among the away fans.

Offord treble lifts Crues to extra-time win

While Douglas soaked up the acclaim of Glens supporters at Windsor Park, Offord starred on the Shore Road with his treble lifting Crusaders to an exciting win over a spirited Dungannon side.

Harry Jewitt-White gave the north Belfast side the perfect start after 17 minutes, unleashing a spectacular volley into Patrick Solis Grogan’s top corner after Robbie Weir’s right-wing cross was only partially cleared by the visiting defence.

The Crues doubled their advantage five minutes later with Offord’s first of the evening. Daniel Larmour powered past Leon Boyd before delivering an inviting low cross that the striker converted at the back post after Ross Clarke’s intelligent header in the build-up.

Rodney McAree’s side managed to reduce the deficit before the interval when John McGovern slotted home from Tomas Galvin’s clever pass, following Leo Alves’ high pressing on Jordan Forsythe.

The Swifts then dramatically levelled with four minutes remaining when Alves reacted quickest to fire home after Jonny Tuffey had saved Kealan Dillon’s penalty, awarded for Lewis Barr’s foul on Gael Bigirmana.

But Offord proved the difference in extra-time, first restoring Declan Caddell’s side’s lead with an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner.

The in-form forward then completed his treble to ensure he went home with the match ball minutes later, racing clear of Danny Wallace before applying a composed finish to seal the Crues’ place in the semi-finals and keep alive their hopes of a first triumph in this competition since 2012.