Comber Rec 0-4 Dunmurry Rec
Premier League
10th October 2009

On a perfect day for football and on a good playing surface following the previous day’s heavy rain, Comber entertained Dunmurry Rec in a league encounter that was to leave the homes team’s usual large support scratching their heads in wonderment.

What was to follow was probably the local’s most ineffective performance witnessed for many seasons.

Comber started well in the early stages with Jim McCloskey and Ryan Oliver combining well on the right flank.  Their approach to the Dunmurry goal was cut off by an effective block challenge which was to be systematic of the remainder of the game.  Comber was up against a well organised defence, strong in the challenge and always supported by their mid-field who created their outlet from defence to quick attack.

Comber again started with Peter Kelly and Chris Ritchie up front, but for most of the afternoon, the two players were rarely supplied with passes to their feet.  Playing against a physically larger central defence, it might have been prudent to keep the ball low, but this didn’t seem to be realised by the locals as they continuously pumped high balls into the forwards which were easily dealt with by the visitors.  This has not been Comber’s form of play over the last few seasons.  The large support has been accustomed to seeing good football, particularly on good surfaces.

Comber played with a 3 man defence which often found themselves stretched and heavily reliant on the ever present Jason Mooney in goal.  Mooney was called upon to snatch a pile driver of a shot from the visiting right winger when it was destined for the roof of his net, but found himself helpless in the 10th minute when a half clearance presented the visiting No 8 with a clear shot at goal which gave his team the lead.

Instead of sparking the locals into life, Comber allowed their guests to attack in waves.  The lead was almost doubled when Mooney, at full stretch, palmed a save away from his goal only to find the Dunmurry centre forward in acres of space.  Thankfully for Comber, he placed his shot tamely wide of the mark.

The Comber crowd did have a glimmer of hope after 20 minutes when some thought Peter Kelly had drawn his team level.  Most present though, including referee Mr Dunlop (who had a good game), saw the challenge on the keeper as being unfair and the goal appeal was turned down.  Kelly, although playing out of position, never gave up and tried to inspire his team mates as best he could.

On 26 minutes, Mooney had to sprint off his line to make a hasty clearance.  His clearance struck the advancing No 9, rebounded off him, back behind Mooney, who was now well out of position, but thankfully rolled out of play for a goal kick.

Dunmurry were playing with much more confidence than Comber.  They were also playing as a team.  When one man had the ball at least one other made himself available to receive the short pass.  Comber, although full of talented players, played like individuals.

It wasn’t long before the visitors did double their lead.  Playing simple football along the ground, Dunmurry worked the ball into Comber’s goal area and gave Mooney no chance when the final shot was directed low into the right side of his goal.

This was almost increased again when the visitors attacked down their left flank and a well directed cross cleared Comber’s big keeper only to see the retreating Joe Jeffery head the ball just wide of his own goal.

Comber did react to the score line for the remainder of the half but resorted to long range efforts that didn’t create any panic in the defending goalmouth.  This was as much a sign of frustration as inability to carve openings in the visiting defence.

Half Time 0-2

No doubt Comber supremo, Jim O’Rourke, gave his team a robust half time team talk but it was evident within 1 minute of the restart it hadn’t achieved the desired effect as Comber found themselves 3 down when the visiting No 10 beat both Mooney and Jeffery to a cross from his right wing.

It was almost 4, on 52 minutes, when a poor back header was pounced upon by the visiting No 8.  Any confidence which the locals had retained appeared to be draining away.

A double substitution on 55 minutes gave the loyal local support a boost when Kyle McQuillan and Keith Dougherty came on for Brent Reid and Chris Ritchie.  Reid and Ritchie had given their all but had come out second best to a well organised and diligent opposition.  All agreed it was great to see Dougherty back wearing a Comber shirt.

Comber’s lack of a recognised forward was very evident during this encounter with the standard of goal attempts on view.

Gareth Larmour, another ‘old boy’ recently returned to Park Way, prevented a certain 4th goal on 67 minutes with a terrific challenge on the edge of his box.  Mooney then came to the rescue two minutes later when he had to dive at the feet of an advancing forward.  Unfortunately for Comber, too many of their ‘big’ players were having an off day, and try as they might, the remainder could not dig themselves out of the situation they found themselves in.

Mooney came to the rescue again on the 65 minute mark when he had to react instinctively to a Larmour attempted clearance which was destined for his own goal.

The inevitable 4th for the visitors came on the 70 minute mark.  Comber’s defence, which had been stretched all afternoon, found themselves ‘at sea’.  Credit to Comber’s keeper, he hadn’t given up and valiantly attempted to save his team from going further behind but, on this occasion, was to no avail.  

Comber was just having one of those games rarely seen over the past number of seasons from their return to the top flight of amateur football.  Nothing seemed to go right.  To those who have never played the game, their team on occasions may not have appeared to be trying.  Those who have played know that for inexplicable reasons some games just don’t go your way and no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to change.

The game finished 4-0 to the visitors who fully deserved their victory.

Teams
Comber: Mooney, Jeffrey, Larmour, Kelly, Emerson, Hegan, Oliver, Johnston, C Ritchie, Reid, McCloskey.  Subs: Dougherty, McQuillan, T Ritchie.

Dunmurry: Kerr, McEaleane, McDonneh, Penton, McMullan, Tumilty, Napier, Walsh, Rutherford, Corr, McLlarnon.  Subs: Larkin, Camlin, Ansley.

Referee Mr Dunlop.

Comber was honoured on Saturday to have the current Mayor of Ards, Cllr William Montgomery, as their chief guest and match day sponsor.  The Mayor chose Ross Hegan as his man of the match.  Comber Rec are again indebted to all their match day sponsors and look forward to inviting more to the sponsorship list as the season progresses.

Mr Norman MaWhinney, of the One Stop Mortgage Shop, later presented the Player of the Month for September to Jason Mooney.  No one in the packed clubhouse could argue with this decision as the ‘big man’ has been outstanding.