Comber 0 Top of the Hill Celtic 9
After a long break due to inclement weather, the Comber boys suffered their heaviest and most embarrassing defeat of the season. Even though the opposition had travelled from Londonderry at 8.00am, the away side started the brighter and were much more eager to compete for the ball. It was clear early on that TOTH Celtic were the best footballing side, Comber have come up against so far. They had three or four strong solid players,with great skill and the rest of the team were very comfortable on the ball.
Ten minutes into the game TOTH Celtic struck the post, and soon after they got their first. This was the start of a terrible first half for comber, and by the end of the first half they had conceded a further five. Yes, the opponents were by far the better team, but too many of the Comber side appeared not to be playing their best and a few didn't seen interested to track back, put in challenges, and gave TOTH Celtic too much time on the ball. Maybe it was due to the xmas break, but it looked like a total lack of effort by some players. Time after time from a goal kick, the midfield failed to compete for the ball and the Comber defence was put under more pressure The ball just never reached Clifford up front. Changes were made at half time and in the second half, and Comber conceded three more goals. 9-0!! It was a relief when the final whistle came.
TOTH Celtic fully deserved their emphatic victory and it would have been easily in double figures had it not been for Rosbotham who made decent saves when asked and in my opinion was faultless for any of the goals! It was commented by three different spectators that the only Comber boys to put in an anyway decent display was Rosbotham, Walker, Rowan and in particular Milligan! The latter played his best game of the season so far, tirelessly challenging and doing his best in midfield. Walker too had a lot of work to do with the ball continually coming back towards the defence. It was noted too that McVicker when brought on in the second half worked hard closing down the opposing midfield, but by then the damage had been done. All in all a very disppointing team performance(effort wise) against a very good side.
Team :Rosbotham, Clarke, Rowan, Walker, Magee, Wilson, Coulter, Milligan, Dunlop A,
Dunlop J, Clifford.
Subs: Carson, McVicker, Kalkerts, Moore.
MOM : Milligan.
