Town ended their week-long tour of Belfast with a 3-1 victory over Glentoran in Paul Leeman's testimonial at the Oval. Darren Boyle put the home side in front early on, but Alan Lee and Pablo Couñago netted either side of half-time, prior to a late Gary Roberts penalty.

The Blues, captained by David Wright, were poor before the break, rarely getting their passing going in windy conditions against the best side they met during the pre-season tour.

Glentoran were close to going in front in the fourth minute when a freekick from the edge of the area was curled on to Shane Supple's post.

The Irish Premier League side were in front in the 11th minute when Town failed to clear and a cross from the left was met by Darren Boyle, who ran into the area untracked by either Tommy Miller or Owen Garvan to nod home.

Town got back on terms in the 18th minute, Jon Walters crossing from the right and Alan Lee's header finding the net with some help from a fumble by the Glentoran keeper.

The lacklustre Blues were lucky not to be behind at the break with a Couñago shot which was well-saved by the home keeper the only other serious effort apart from the goal.

Glentoran made a lot of changes during the second half and were much less of a taxing proposition. Alan Lee forced two good saves from the Irish side's keeper early on, before Pablo Couñago scored his first goal of pre-season in the 54th minute, stooping to head home Tommy Miller's corner while unmarked.

Town themselves made substitutions galore with only Shane Supple and Alan Quinn playing the full 90 minutes. Danny Haynes, subbed early on against Donegal Celtic after a petulant kick at a defender, was notably the only sub not to be used other than keeper-coach James Hollman. Richard Naylor took over as captain for the latter stages.

Jon Walters was replaced by Gary Roberts in the 69th minute having been briefly involved in a bout of handbags with a Glentoran defender.

Roberts added the final goal with six minutes left on the clock from the penalty spot, the Blues' fourth of pre-season and the first to be converted. Jordan Rhodes had won the ball from a defender and had burst into the area before being fouled.

Earlier, Dutch defender Pim Balkestein had come close to a second pre-season goal with a 30-yard strike which was tipped over, but aside from that the Blues rarely came close to adding to their goals.

Perhaps surprisingly after his disappointing 2007/08 campaign, Gary Roberts was the star of the tour, impressing in all three matches, although against opposition which gave the Blues few problems, aside from Glentoran in the first half of today's game. Keeper Shane Supple similarly failed to put a foot wrong, while trialist Ben Thatcher had three solid games despite hardly being troubled defensively.

Town: Supple, Wright (Balkestein 66), Thatcher (Casement 58), Garvan (Trotter 62), Bruce (Naylor 64), McAuley (Smith 70), Miller (Sumulikoski 62), Quinn, Walters (Roberts 69), Lee (Rhodes 56), Couñago (Peters 56). Unused: Hollman, Haynes.

Photo: Action Images

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