“Kelly’s Heroes”

Comber entertained Nortel FC in a pulsating Border Cup fixture at Park Way last Saturday.

The game was less than 1 minute old when Comber’s keeper, Jason Mooney, reacted quickly to a bullet of a header destined for his right hand corner.  This set the tone for Jason’s match performance during the next 89 minutes as he grew in stature (if that’s possible with an already 6’8” frame!) becoming a colossus by the end of the match.

Nortel looked the more dangerous of the two teams throughout the early exchanges but Comber reminded the large crowd that they had something to offer up front when skipper Jim McCluskey drove his shot narrowly wide of the visitor’s right hand post after 10 minutes.

This was quickly followed by his defence almost hitting the self destruct button when Nortel broke back immediately but Mooney in goal again came to the rescue.  Comber reacted by forcing the visitors deep into their half and new boy, Chris Ritchie, was unfortunate to see his shot sale over the cross bar from a tight angle on the 15 minute mark.

End to end football was the order of the day as both teams probed each others defence trying to break down solid rear guards.  On 20 minutes, Mooney made a terrific one handed interception, reminiscent of Pat Jennings, when the visiting right winger sent a fabulous cross to his colleague who was sprinting to the back post.

The new central defender, Joe Jefferies, found the attacking Nortel winger a handful and on 27 minutes received the first yellow of the match for holding his opponent.  Jefferies had a very good game in general, and had good understanding with his other defenders Paul Emerson and Peter Kelly, though twice he was caught in possession and relied on the ever present Mooney to save any blushes.

The referee, Mr Cecil Floyd, must be congratulated for the manner in which he maintained the flow of the game, always allowing advantage where possible or calling the play back when necessary.

On 40 minutes, Ryan Johnston finished off a great move from Comber’s right flank after a good interchange of play between Peter Kelly and Ryan Oliver.  Unfortunately his shot was just wide of the upright and the score remained 0-0.

This changed, however, on 43 minutes when Nortel broke speedily down their right wing and with the second effort of crossing, a dangerous low ball was not dealt with by the Comber defence, and the onrushing number 8 directed the ball into Comber’s net.  This advantage was almost doubled on 46 minutes but the visiting number 10 shot weakly into the inviting arms of Comber’s keeper.

The second half started in the same manner as the first had ended.  End to end football with Comber pushing for the equaliser.  Jefferies almost undid his good work in the first half when he carried the ball across his own goal area, when there appeared to be plenty of time to make a clearance, and lost possession to a visiting attacker.  Mooney came to the rescue again.

Ryan Johnston was unlucky, with 60 minutes gone, when he fired over with a snap shot following a corner from the left.  The Comber team was now playing with much more purpose, and a stronger attacking line up.  On more than one occasion, the home team had four players up front; Ryan Oliver, Jim McCluskey, Chris Ritchie and Peter Kelly who had been moved forward by the management when they could see that a change was necessary.

Comber’s skipper (McClusky) almost equalised when he followed up a challenge between Peter Kelly and the visiting keeper.  With the keeper lying sprawled on the ground, McCluskey fired his shot just over from the edge of the penalty box.  Referee Floyd saw nothing amiss with the challenge on the keeper, though many of the Nortel team and support differed.

Chris Ritchie made way for his brother Tim on 67 minutes and the crowd were sensing Comber’s ascendancy.  Ryan Oliver, Comber’s lively winger, forced the keeper into a fantastic save.  Oliver and Comber’s young Alex Malcolm-Borne both had great performances.  Their energy levels, enthusiasm and team commitment was first class. 

The equaliser came on 75 minutes from the ever present ‘PK’ (Peter Kelly).  He chased down a diagonal ball to the left hand corner of the Nortel goal area, turned and curled the ball around and over the advancing keeper and into the far corner of the goal. The home support erupted.

The game had just restarted when Comber regained possession and immediately fed the ball out to the impressive Oliver on the right wing.  A good interchange of play saw the ball finish at the toe of skipper McCluskey who this time made no mistake with a well positioned shot, low under the Nortel keeper from just inside the goal area.  The noise levels increased even further from the side lines when all could now see the type of football the home team are capable of playing.

Comber held out for the remainder of the tie.  Kelly, now up front leading the attack, found energy from somewhere to chase every ball that was sent forward.  Alex Malcolm-Borne contributed enormously to his team with his unselfish play which belied his inexperience at this level.  This boy was playing for Comber’s under 16s only last season, and it was obvious that his Milk Cup experience with the Co Down team this summer has paid great dividends.

The Man of the Match, sponsored by Councillor Mervyn Oswald, a very good friend of the club, was presented to Peter Kelly.  Following this presentation, the Comber branch of the Manchester United Supporters Club also handed over a generous cheque to Jim O’Rourke and Derek Lowry, 1st team manager and club President respectively.  Comber Rec is extremely grateful to all our sponsors for their kind, and very welcome assistance.  Should anyone wish to add their name to the list of match day sponsors, please speak to any club officials or contact the club through its website (www.comber-rec.co.uk).

This had been a great team performance from the Comber lads.  The outfield players were surely influenced by the inspirational Jason Mooney in goals.  The management must also come in for praise for their astute change of formation in the second half which undoubtedly altered the score line in their team’s favour.  This victory has given Comber another home draw in the Border Cup against Barn Utd.

A further presentation was made later in the clubhouse when the One Stop Mortgage Shop player of the month for August was presented to Kyle McQuillan by Mr Norman MaWhinney.

Peter Kelly receiving his Man of the Match award from sponsor Mervyn Oswald	Derek Hume & Ian McKnight presenting a sponsorship cheque to club President Derek    Lowry and 1st Team manager Jim O'Rourke	Norman MaWhinney of the One Stop Mortgage Shop presenting the August Player of the Month to Kyle McQuillan