4th Round JJB Sports Irish Cup
Tobermore Utd 2-1 Comber Rec (aet)

Comber made the long journey to Tobermore Utd last Saturday hoping for the right result that would see them into the big draw round of this season’s Irish Cup.  Tobermore are currently sitting at the top of the pile in the Championship Division 2 and with Comber’s position at the foot of the Amateur Premier league, the neutral could be forgiven for automatically forecasting an easy win for the home team.
The match that unfolded, however, did not mirror the expectation as it was Comber who for long periods of the game looked the more accomplished and determined.
Comber took a deserved lead mid-way through the first half with a terrific team goal. Peter Kelly, showing his usual determination, won a tussle on the half-way line and threaded the ball through to the lively Ryan Oliver on the right wing.  Oliver took the ball towards the dead ball line before delivering an inch perfect cross to Timmy Ritchie sprinting in from the left wing. Ritchie caught the ball on the volley and gave the home keeper no chance as it flew past his outstretched arms and into the corner of the goal.

The second half began with the home team showing more endeavor and commitment but the Comber rear guard stood firm against everything their hosts could throw at them.  Comber’s mid-field worked tirelessly, especially Brent Reid, to protect their defence. 
It was an uncharacteristic error from Comber’s big keeper that led to the home team equalizing.  When it appeared easier to catch a hanging ball, Jason Mooney flapped at it and only managed to direct it to the foot of a waiting attacker who accepted the opportunity to drag his team back into the fixture.  Mooney up to this point had been outstanding, despite his lengthy lay off due to an injury experienced whilst training with the NI Under 21 squad a number of weeks ago.  It’s also fair to say he was equal to anything Tobermore could produce for the remainder of the game but a mistake by a keeper normally leads to a goal whereas a miss by an attacker doesn’t alter the scoreline. 
Before the equalizer had been scored, Comber almost doubled their lead when a shot destined for the back of the goal was stopped on the line by an alert defender.
The game finished at 1-1 after 90 minutes so a further 30 minutes resulted.  Comber did look deflated as the game was certainly there for the taking.  When the locals took a 2-1 lead after the ball was riffled through a packed goal area, the writing was on the wall for Comber.  Try as they might, Comber couldn’t force the game into the Tobermore half and the legs began to look weary on the excellent playing surface.
The resulting defeat saw an end to Comber’s Irish Cup run for this season.  Once again, Jim O’Rourke’s squad (minus a number of influential players) gave everything they had but just came up short.  Now it’s back to the league programme and the task of climbing away from the foot of the table.  Should Comber produce their cup form in the next few league matches their league position shall certainly change.   The man of the match was awarded to Joe Jeffries for his outstanding game at the heart of Comber’s defence.