Comber Rec 1-0 Barn Utd
Border Regiment Cup
3 October 2009

The game at Park Way to decide who was to progress to the quarter final stage of this year’s competition was always going to be effected by the strong wind and a pitch that was rock hard following the recent spell of dry weather.

It was the home team who started the brightest, especially when the sprightly Ryan Oliver was involved.  His youthful agility showed early in the game with an acrobatic scissor kick soon after the start of the game which narrowly missed the target.

On 5 minutes, Comber was involved in a goalmouth scramble which the visitors did well to clear.  Not only did they clear, but they broke quickly into their host’s half only to see their final shot fly narrowly past Jason Mooney’s right hand post.

The Comber attack was again led by the versatile Peter Kelly assisted by Chris Ritchie, but a combination of the severe wind and poor passing often left the forwards stranded when possession was sometimes gifted to their opponents.  There were occasions in the first half when Mooney in the Comber goal was delivering his goal kicks over the bye line at the opposite end of the pitch, such was the strength of the wind and the clean striking of the big keeper.

It was Barn Utd though who almost broke the deadlock on the 20 minute mark when their number 10 was put clean through but pulled his shot wide of Mooney’s goal.  Comber responded by immediately attacking Barn’s goal area but hesitation from Chris Ritchie saw the opportunity pass.  There appeared to be a degree of lack of confidence in front of the visitor’s goal from a number of Comber’s players, as responsibility for shooting seemed too great.

Gareth Larmour combined well with Ross Hagan to carve out another great attack on 27 minutes when he managed to work the ball to the opponent’s bye line and pull it back to his team mate through an ensemble of visiting defenders. Again, unfortunately, the finish did not match the preparation as the resulting shot was wide of the mark.

Barn Utd, playing into the strong wind, had to work the ball along the surface.  On the occasions when they cleared the ball high, they often found themselves defending the same ball as the wind took it back into their own half.

The last 5 minutes of the first half saw each team come close.  On 40 minutes Barn’s number 6 saw his headed effort loop just over Comber’s goal with Mooney stranded and right at the end of the first period, a long range effort from Comber’s Jim McCloskey missed the target by inches.

Half Time 0-0

Comber had to change tactics in the second half as the locals now had to face the ever present stiff conditions.  It was the Comber team which now had to concentrate on playing the ball low. 

With only 5 minutes of the second half expired, Comber worked the ball out to skipper McCloskey on the left wing.  The experienced and skilful mid-fielder cut inside his marker and sent a curling shot towards the Barn goal.  The keeper was at full stretch but couldn’t reach the ball which glanced the underside of the crossbar, deflect down to the back post, and despite his best efforts of clawing at the ball, was unable to prevent it crossing the line before scooping it away.  Fortunately for Comber, referee Donald Malmo-Paris was in an excellent position to see that the ball was a good 18” over the line and awarded the goal immediately, despite protests from Brown in the Barn goal.  The referee had a very efficient and commanding game and was always up with play.  Not everyone agreed with every decision but he was consistent and fair throughout.

The goal sparked life back into the visitors who, with the advantage of nature, started to throw everything at Comber’s goal.  A terrific double save from Jason Mooney on 55 minutes kept the score in his team’s favour. On the occasions that Comber played the ball into feet with one touch football, the locals looked very effective, but these occasions were rare.  The persistence of Ryan Oliver wide on Comber’s right often paid dividends when he chased what appeared to be lost causes and created scoring opportunities for his team mates.  On one such occasion, he harassed the visiting full back who thought he had plenty of time to turn with the ball on his own bye line, won the ball and delivered a great pass to the edge of the penalty box for the inrushing Ryan Johnston.  The resulting shot was picked up by the International Space Station! The remainder of the game saw both teams bring on their subs in an effort to enhance the score line or bring it level.  The conditions, however, controlled the game on many occasions and the Comber team won through to the quarter final, their opponents Shankill Utd (away).  This match was not one that could be described as a ‘breeze’ or one in which  Comber ‘stormed’ to victory as Barn looked a very capable and well organised outfit.

The Man of the Match, chosen by the Match Day Sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous, was Comber’s Jim McCloskey.  The club would once again thank the match day sponsors for their continued generosity. Jim was presented with his award by Norman Scates, Chairman of the Comber Rec Supporters Club

Teams:-
Comber Rec; Mooney, Hegan, Emerson, Jeffrey, Johnston, Oliver, Reid, McCloskey(1), Larmour, C Ritchie, Kelly. Subs Miller, Harper, T Ritchie.

Barn Utd; Brown, McKinty, Maeers, Wakeham, Montieth, Osborne, Matthews, Kane, Glover, Toan, Dharples. Subs H Brown, Wallace, Henry

Referee Mr Donald Malmo-Paris.