Comber Rec Enjoy Victory Over Crumlin Star in Steel and Sons Cup 2023
ToalsBet.Com Steel and Sons Cup 2023
Venue: Seaview, Belfast @ 10.45am,
Final Score: Crumlin Star 2 3 Comber Rec.
It was a day and night of celebration for Comber Rec who finished off their Steel and Sons Cup campaign with an impressive win over strong adversaries Crumlin Star in a thrilling match to an almost packed stadium at Seaview in Belfast writes Jim Masson ©.
As the whistle went to kick off the final, Comber were quick off the mark and won a corner then Harry Grierson ploughed forward and won a free. Comber had set out their intentions from the first kick.
But Crumlin settled defending well and broke forward and David Fearon took a volley at the Comber goals but was wide, and this was followed by another strike by defender Aidan McNeill who also went wide.
Comber broke forward and won a free and skipper Simon Hanna hit it well on target but Crumlin keeper Ciaran McNeill was on form and got the ball under control.
Then as Comber pressed again Stuart Moore stretched up for a header and was a fraction wide of the near post. The match was shaping up to be a Christmas cracker as both teams were fired up for the occasion.
Comber were facing a determined Crumlin side but Comber’s strong team discipline kept them together as the game moved up and down the pitch at pace.
Both sides were defending very well and it was looking like a bit of a stalemate for a spell.
Crumlin’s Breandan O’Neill made a spot perfect cross to Noel Halfpenny who volleyed but keeper Corey Pollock plucked the ball well out of the air with ease.
Gradually Crumlin started to play with more authority but then a deft move by Stephen Smyth found the ball at his feet and he quickly dispatched it into the Comber net to open the scoring in the 35th minute.
ACTION PHOTOS AND PRESENTATION 1 – By Jim Masson. A total of 127 images to view.
ACTION PHOTOS AND PRESENTATION 2 – By Jim Masson.
But Comber steadied and fought back winning a free kick 3 yards outside the Crumlin box. Grierson took the kick but it reverbrated off the legs of defenders and was cleared.
As the game went up a gear, Lex Walker was yellow carded as tensions mounted. Comber stepped up the attacks on Crumlin and the clock ticked as the referee had allowed an extra 2 minutes.
This was always going to be a close and competitive match. Kris Gaw made an excellent gutsy run at pace up the right and eventually lost possession facing two defenders.
Stuart Moore received a yellow card on 71 minutes and Gaw then received one on 80 minutes as Comber battled for an equaliser to stay in the game and keep their cup hopes alive. And as the temperature rose even further, Crumlin head coach was also yellow carded and Barry McKervey received a red putting Crumlin at a significant disadvantage with minutes to go.
Then in the 87th minute Dylan Wilson struck a low ball beating keeper McNeill from the back of the box to equalise and force an extra time play off. The Comber fans were ecstatic !
Again Cory Pollock rose confidently to steal the ball from a Crumlin corner. But then Crumlin stepped up another gear and the match played at a fast pace but with a number of very physical challenges.
Joseph McNeill made a great cross to the Crumlin goal that almost netted. And then sun Stephen Fleck found an opportunity to hit the ball on target but keeper McNeill was on it like a flash.
As the tension mounted, the Comber Rec fans were in full voice sing, egging their team on. Just at the right moment, Elliot Wilson who played a great game scored in the 96th minute keeping the their hopes alive.
But this was undone minutes later as Aidan McNeill cancelled out Elliot’s effort with a low curling goal on the 100th minute. The game was poised for penalties both teams on 2-2.
The game stopped and started a bit as there were a number of fouls. Tension was mounting.
There was a definite scare in the Comber dugout when a well taken ball by Crumlin’s Kevin Treanor glanced off the head of James Doyle just missing the back post.
Then out of the blue Comber captain Simon Hanna delivered with a late goal after 106 minutes and the clock was ticking the final seconds. Could Comber hold on against the sheer force of Crumlin ?
There were 4 minutes extra for injuries and in the dying embers Corey Pollock made an excellent save to keep his side a goal in front.
The whistle eventually went and Comber Rec were the Steel & Sons champions for 2023.
It was a close cut affair, but Comber had the edge on team discipline and sheer guts to keep going to the last and playing open football.
Comber Rec manager Gareth McKibbin was absolutely over the moon at his team’s performance and said: “We managed to pull a win out of this. It was touch and go at times and the match could have gone either way.
ACTION PHOTOS AND PRESENTATION 1 – By Jim Masson. A total of 127 images to view.
ACTION PHOTOS AND PRESENTATION 2 – By Jim Masson.
“But Comber stuck to their task in hand and myself and the management team are proud of every one of them.
“It was a slow start in getting into the game and finding our feet but we got there in the end.”
Comber Rec now are preparing for their next match against Willowbank in the Border Cup final at Seaview at 2.30pm on Monday 1st January 2024.
Crumlin Star: 1 Ciaran McNeill GK 2 Breanden O’Neill 3 Aidan McNeill 4 Niall Hawkins (C) 5 Aidan Lillis 6 Joseph McNeill 7 Noel Halfpenny 8 Conor McLaughlin 9 Kevin Lynch 10 David Fearon 11 Stephen Smyth. Subs: 12 Kevin Treanor 14 Barry McKervey 15 Samuel McBurney 16 Francis Nolan 17 James Doyle.
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 Simon Hanna (C) 9 Brett Conville 10 Harry Grierson 11 Elliot Wilson. Subs: Stuart Hanna 14 Stephen Fleck 15 Andrew Laird 16 Matthew Gibson 17 Brandon Nelson.
