Under 17's match report.

Comber Rec 6 - 6 Tullycarnet

Comber started this match hoping to build on the performance from the first match and it was stressed to the players that a good start was vital to the performance. The lads obviously heeded the words of the management because after 2 minutes, on Combers’ first attack, Pinnons slotted the ball home after great work from the midfield. Tullycarnet fought back and scored twice through two long balls which the Comber defence could not cope with. The Rec team definitely had the lion share of the possession and were getting great joy down the left side through Pinnons and Leech and deserved to equalise when the ball was squared from the left and Laird was presented with an easy tap in. Next came the goal of the game. Comber went through a series of one touch passes before Leech calmly beat his defender and rifled in his shot from 18 yards, lifting the ball over the ‘keeper. What a goal! Comber should have built on this however credit to the Tullycarnet team, they battled back and were to find another equaliser, again through a long ball played over the defence.

Half time 3-3

During the half time team talk, it was apparent that Comber were passing the ball well, with the Tullycarnet threat coming from the long ball. For the second week in a row Comber started off slowly and Tullycarnet raced into a two goal lead with 30 minutes still to play. Comber needed inspiration from somewhere and this came through the industrious Majury, who took the game by the scruff of the neck, and started to win the midfield battle. Along with Majury, the captain Hanna took it upon himself to challenge the Tullycarnet defence, with his challenging runs at the opposition defence. In fact it was Majury who played the ball to Laird and he was upended in the box for a clear penalty. Laird, who by his own standards was having an indifferent day, confidently stroked home the penalty, there was never any doubt! Comber were on the up and Hanna was causing the defence havoc and a goal mouth scramble saw the sub Lennox finish from two yards for the equaliser. Comber went in front through Hanna and this came from his cross-come-shot which fell over the keeper from about 30 yards with only 3 minutes remaining. The previous week Comber scored a late equaliser and this week they were to be on the end of a late equaliser. They were awarded a free kick in their own half and instead of finding the corner, Comber found the ‘keepers hands. A long kick saw the Tullycarnet forward run onto the ball and only a superb tackle from Finney prevented a goal and conceded a corner. This should have seen comber get out of jail however poor marking from the corner allowed Tullycarnet to equalise with the last kick of the game.

Full time 6-6