Comber Rec pull through in Irish Cup Round 2 with 3 goal lead over Crumlin Utd
Irish Cup ROUND 2,
Saturday 16th September 2023, at Park Way, Comber,
Final Score: Comber Rec. 5 2 Crumlin United (Extra time).
This victory for Comber Rec over Crumlin United was hard won despite the three goal deficit clocked up by the home side writes Jim Masson ©
Visitors Crumlin Utd are one place behind Comber in the NAFL Premier league so the match technically was level on paper.
Comber started off soundly and Brett McConville who had a brilliant game scoring twice went straight into the attack crossing to Elliot Wilson but the pass was a fraction too heavy.
Comber then won a free and Wilson got possession and tried a half lob over keeper Michael McEnhill’s head but it was just over the bar.
The Conville-Elliot combo was working well from the whistle and a cross again from Conville saw Elliot strikle on target but to deflect off an in-rushing defender.
Then Crumlin winger Conal Cunningham squeezed through the Comber back line to face keeper Corey Pollock but Lex Walker came in like a wolf to the fold and dispossessed him sharply before he could get off a shot.
Crumlin started to made headway into the Comber half looking threatening and won a corner. Cunningham rose up for the header but just knocked it over the bar.
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Conville was on form and lashed a couple of powerful volleys from 40 yards over the bar.
Comber were making good challenges into the Crumlin half as the midfield appeared in control and but Crumlin broke quickly and Reece Whittle was forced to make a crucial intervention on Diarmaid McPhilips charging forward.
The home side bounced back quickly and once again Conville crossed to Elliot whose shot again hit a defender which looked on target to the goal.
Comber had a long spell when they were quite dominant and Comber seemed happy to sit back.
Then in the 20th minute, a through ball to Wilson saw him go 1:1 with keeper McEnhill and he calmly hit the ball to the inside left post putting Comber one goal ahead after a period of sustained pressure.
But Crumlin came back bouncing and McPhilips under pressure from the Comber defenders managed to fire off a strong volley at an angle and was just a fraction off target.
Then it was Crumlin’s time to attack again and defender Paul Lenaghan made a brillant low hard cross but keeper Pollock made a stunning save gathering control of the ball.
Quickly Comber broke up the pitch and after a couple of shots at goal the ball went loose in the Crumlin box and Conville was there to take control and knock in goal number two on 32 minutes.
Comber were in the driving seat… but someone didn’t tell Crumlin Utd players!
Despite the excellent at times clinical passing from Comber, Crumlin fought back and were nevertheles shaken by Conville again as he almost lobbed in a short effort over McEnhills head but it was a fraction too hard.
Then in 37 minutes, Cunningham made an excellent shot on target but keeper Pollock could not get it under control quick enough and McPhilips managed to slot the ball into the Comber net pulling back a goal. Crumlin tails were up.
This goal gave Crumlin a spark of life and they were well energised. With 5 minutes to go to the end of the first half, Crumlin gave away a free and lost attacking advantage.
Comber’s Dylan Wilson found the ball and was within firing range at the edge of the box but his shot was inches over the bar keeping Crumlin at bay. Comber finished strongly in the last 10 minutes, but the second half was all to play for.
Comber were looking the stronger as the second period commenced and the Crumlin fron line were well closed off by the Comber back line.
On 11 minutes Elliot Wilson just missed a header opportunity. Then in 62 minutes Wilson hit another shot just off target. But Comber were keen to finish off Crumlin and another goal was all they need ed to get that crucial edge, a comfort zone.
This was followed by a whopping volley by Conville again a fraction off target.
Gradually the game got more physical and players were dropping fast. But Comber was defending solidly, and Crumlin were finding it hard to get near the goal area despite repeated efforts.
At 73 minutes, the wear and tear was showing and Harry Grierson came off replaced by Stephen Fleck.
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Elliot Wilson was having a great game for Comber and managed to wriggle past a line of Crumlin defenders and hit a solid shot at goal but again it bounced off a defender.
Crumlin were looking aways dangerous on a quick break. As the clock ticked they were tensing up and needed an equaliser.
Comber then replaced Tumlinson and Gillan with Nelson and McMorris to refesh their efforts and keep Crumlin at bay.
Play was increasingly physical and Comber were hanging on to their one goal lead.
But you can never relax until the final whistle. Just when the match was 4 minutes over the 90 into extra time, Pierce McConnell scored the equaliser for Crumlin on the whistle forcing the match into extra time.
Comber gathered their willpower and stayed focussed and Elliot Wilson delivered a much needed goal for Comber. Sub Brandon Nelson made an excellent cross to Elliot in the box from the left and Wilson first timed it into the back of the Crumlin net on 96 minutes.
Then 8 minutes later Brandon Nelson received a pass from Elliot Wilson and slotted it into the goal at the start if the second extra time period at 104 minutes.
Then the proverbial icing on the cake came for Comber when Brett Conville who had tortured the Crumlin defence, broke into the Crumlin box past the defenders and avoided a challenge from keeper McEnhill.
He kicked the ball to the inside of the left hand post for a coffin nail of a shot burying Crumlin beyond hope.
Crumlin did fight back but Comber held themselves together despite Gerard Mallon firing in a volley to the Comber goal just wide, then another just later forcing Pollock to make a beezer of reflex save.
Crumlin United fought to the end, but they were soundly beaten by a Comber Rec side on form, playing like a team.
Comber are through to the Round 3 of the Irish Challenge Cup.
Kilmore Rec beat Moneyslane 1-2, Drumaness beat Mossley 2-9. Rathfriland Rangers went out on penalties against Ballymacash Rangers, Portferry went down 5-2 to Abbey Villa, and Ballynahinch Olympic went down 1-3 to Fivemiletown Utd.
So there is still a good bit of local interest in this cup across Down.
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Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock GK 2 Ciaran Gillan 3 Lex Walker 4 Stuart Moore 5 Reece Whittle 6 Kristopher Gaw 7 Dylan Wilson 8 Harry Grierson 9 Brett Conville 10 Matthew Tumlinson (C) 11 Elliot Wilson. Subs: 12 Ben McMorris 14 Brandon Nelson 15 Stephen Fleck 16 Mark Picking.
Crumlin Utd: 1 Michael McEnhill (GK) 2 Paul Lenaghan 3 Ross Dougherty 4 Darragh Doherty 5 Michael Byrne 6 Pierce McConnell 7 Nathan Watters (C) 8 Daniel Jackson 9 Diarmaid McPhilips 10 Christopher Campbell 11 Conal Cunningham. Subs: 12 Ryan Gorman 14 Gerard Mallon 15 Reece Black 16 Tomas Skillen.
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