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| Glasgow Rangers first visited the
Oval in 1902 over the Easter period. After losing heavily
to Rangers on the Easter Monday a "Glentoran United"
team of seven glenmen and four other top local players
defeated Rangers before a crowd of 3,000.
Rangers returned to Belfast in 1904 again over the
Easter period in a game which was described as a "scrambling
game". The game ended in a another win for Rangers.There
would not be another fixture between
the two until in 1966.
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Glentoran had only four years of european
experience and now they would have to face Rangers in
the first round of the European Cup Winners Cup.
The critics were expecting an comprehensive victory both
home and away for Rangers but it turned out rather differently.
The first leg at the Oval seen 35,000 pack into the
Oval and the Glens produced another famous display.
It looked as if despite all their hard work in a battling
display they would have to settle for a 0-1 loss against
their more illustrious opponents but up popped Sinclair
to blast home in the 89th minute. The return leg in
Glasgow with a
combination of mistakes and missed chances meant that
Rangers were able to run out 4-0 winners. John Colrain's
shackling tactics had provided for a famous result in
Belfast at the Oval. This result would lay the foundation
for further success both at home and abroad.
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| In 2000 the Glens played Rangers again
in a match that was part of Tommy Leeman's transfer 16
years previous. 2000 Glentoran supporters made the trip
and in a crowd of 16,000 sang their hearts out as their
team battled against a full strength Rangers team. Michael
Mols scored the 1st in the 10th minute with a neat turn
and shot but only Rod Wallace and Allan Johnston would
score again as the part timers restricted a full strength
Rangers team to a 3-0 victory. |
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