AN EASTER HALLIDAY; JJB PREMIERSHIP GLENTORAN 1 LINFIELD 1.

Byline: DARREN FULLERTON

GLENTORAN stayed top of the JJB Premiership and en route for the league title thanks to a last-gasp share of the spoils at The Oval last night.

Michael Halliday was the Glens hero, the seasoned striker heading home Gary Hamilton's injury time corner to gift the east Belfast giants a crucial point against their Big Two rivals.

Linfield looked to have secured victory and a return to the summit of the league table thanks to Paul Munster's 51st minute header.

But with time running out Halliday rose to direct a downward header through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner of the net.

CLASS

The long serving frontman may never score a more important goal between now and the end of the campaign.

The Glens, who are seeking their first Gibson Cup since 2005, remain one point clear and in firm control of their destiny with just four games remaining.

Nothing is certain - not least in the new league format which sees the Big Two play the other top sides in the league between now and May 2 - but it is Glentoran's title to lose.

The Ovalmen had started with an attacking formation that saw the ever dangerous Hamilton lurking in the space behind strike duo Matty Burrows and Halliday.

But it was Linfield who boasted a monopoly in first-half chances..

The Blues had the ball in the net in the 18th minute - Glenn Ferguson heading past Elliott Morris from a Damien Curran free - but it was ruled out for a push on Sean Ward.

Ferguson also directed a glancing header inches over the bar in the 21st minute, before Jim Ervin forced a palmed save from Morris on the half-hour mark.

Defender William Murphy also watched a downward header deflected wide before Munster lofted a shot from an angle over the crossbar with Morris caught in no man's land.

Linfield started the second-half with real intent and the breakthrough finally arrived in the 51st minute thanks to Munster's 13th goal of the season.

It was all so typical of Linfield - digging out such a crucial advantage when they needed it most.

Mulgrew's inswinging corner fizzed into the area and Munster arrived at pace to give Morris no chance with a close-range header.

Glentoran, whose only efforts of note in the first period were a Burrows miscued shot and a Kyle Neill drive, were stung and went in search of a riposte.

The pressure finally told in the dying minutes and it was Halliday who found himself at the centre of the drama.

He watched a flicked header from a Jamie McGovern throwin veer wide and also headed a Hamilton corner over the bar when a goal seemed certain.

The Glens looked dead and buried - but then up stepped Halliday with a moment that may well help decide the destiny of the Gibson Cup.

GLENTORAN: Morris; McGovern, Nixon, Ward, Hill (Black 72); Neill, McCabe, Fitzgerald (Fordyce 12); Hamilton; Halliday, Burrows.

LINFIELD: Mannus; Ervin, Douglas, Murphy, Gallagher; Carvill, Mulgrew, Garrett, Curran; Ferguson (McAllister 66), Munster (Burns 85).

CAPTION(S):

LATE, LATE DRAMA Matty Burrows congratulates Michael Halliday after his last gasp leveller at The Oval last night