Comber 2nds Victorious in Mud Bath

With conditions only fit for pigs and rugged central defenders, Comber Rec second team secured their first league points of 2012, with 2 Cup games and a league defeat in January. Comber secured a 5-3 win against a spiky Albert Foundry side that defeated Dunmurry Rec 8-1 the week before.

Comber lined up with a very strong side, with first team centre half Trevor Kennedy returning from injury to partner Peter Kelly in the heart of defence, McClean and Walker playing at full backs.

In midfield Comber welcomed back Canmore, Gracie and Spence who lined up beside Hutchison.

The first half started with Comber dominating, a series of corners and possession helped Comber take the lead on 20 mins, great play by Jonny Hunter saw him skip by the Albert Foundry defence and smash and unstoppable drive into the bottom left of the net. From the goal Comber sat back as the conditions worsened and the pitch began to resemble a ploughed field.

Foundry equalised on 35 minutes, having fought back and gained control of the football, leading to Hutchison making a succession of robust tackles that saw him lucky only to escape with a caution from the referee.

However a resilient Comber side took the lead again on the 35 minute with great counter attack play with Hunter and Gracie causing havoc. Hunter picked the ball up on the half way line and fed a ball down the left wing to Gracie, who nutmeged the Foundry defender and played a squared pass for Spence who calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

Comber completed the half under further pressure but lead 2-1

Soon into the second half Comber added more pressure to themselves after conceding a penalty, with Hutchison caught on his heals, stretching in the box, inviting the Foundry forward to go down. Foundry scored the preceding penalty and manager Hawkes had no alternative to substitute Hutchison having committed too many fouls for 4 games never mind 55 minutes of one game.

Comber regained the lead shortly after with Peter Kelly hooking in an acrobatic attempt from Kennedy. Not to be out done Foundry attacked and scored a deserved equaliser to make it 3-3, after Kennedy got caught on the ball 3 yards in front of the Comber goal.

With 20 mins remaining, Hunter, Gracie and big Gary Bennent, combined well on a number of occasions helping Comber dominate once again. Hunter bagged his second of the game, which restored Combers lead.

Great wing play and cross from Gracie saw Comber go to an unassailable 5-3 lead, Gracie skipped by the Foundry full back and whipped a great ball into the box, the unfortunate Albert Foundry centre half put the ball into his own net, with substitute Bell ready to pounce.

With the game over as a conquest, Man of Match Hunter was left with a 2 yard open net to score his hatrick, unfortunately he managed to miss the target completely to the great surprise of the crowd and indeed Hunter himself.

All in all a great team performance from Comber, a settled first team squad can only help Comber 2nd team progress up the league in future games.

MOM – Jonny Hunter

DOM (Donkey of Match) Gareth Hutchison (is it time for a few nails in the boots?)