GLENTORAN would appear to be in the driving seat in their joust with Gzira United after securing a 2-2 draw in the away leg in Malta.
New boss Warren Feeney will feel his side are capable of completing the job at The Oval next week, having fought back from a 2-1 deficit at the break in the Maltese heat.
Summer signing Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe got his Glens career off to a faltering start by missing from the penalty spot within five minutes of the kick-off, but quickly made amends as he headed in the opener on nine minutes
Gzira started to find their feet in the game and got a deserved equaliser on 29 minutes when Jose Wilkson pounced on the rebound after Aaron McCarey had made a good save.
As half-time approached, the home side found another gear and a fine move led to a chance for Brooklyn Borg, who fired home from the edge of the box.
Feeney’s men came out galvanised after the break, however, and they got their reward with an equaliser after a well-worked free-kick routine. Niall McGinn’s shot from the left side of the box was parried away but Rhys Marshall was there to head the equaliser.
The Glens pushed for the winner but to no avail, with honours even heading back to east Belfast next Thursday night.
LINFIELD will take a 3-1 lead to Albania next week for the second leg of their tie with KS Vllaznia Shkodër.
The Blues had to show patience at Windsor Park last night though, having to wait until the 57th minute for Chris McKee to open the scoring.
McKee added a second 11 minutes later and Jack Scott made it 3-0 in the 76th minute. Marko Juric gave the visitors a glimmer of hope for next week with an injury-time goal.
DUNDALK rode their luck in the heat of Gibraltar to secure a goalless draw with Bruno’s Magpies. Stephen O’Donnell’s visitors had a chance to take the lead early on but Daniel Kelly fluffed his lines.
Ex-Birmingham City player Jack Storer thought he had opened the scoring for the home team after half-an-hour when he beat Nathan Shepperd in the Dundalk goal, but Darragh Leahy was back on the line to clear his effort.
Dundalk had another let-off straight after the break as a long throw was met by Kyle Casciaro, who fired straight at Shepperd.
As time ebbed away, there was another let-off for Dundalk as Liam Nash lifted the ball over Shepperd but it bounced just wide.
The visitors could have grabbed the win when Connor Malley’s effort hit team-mate John Martin and looped over.
