Comber Rec struggled against a determined St Mary’s side in the Clarence Cup Round 2 clash
The NAFL,
The All Sport Insurance Ireland Clarence Cup Round 2,
Venue: Park Way, Comber, on 21 2 26,
Final Score: Comber Rec 0 0 St Mary’s FC ( Comber won 5-4 pm penalties).
It was a tough day at the office for Comber Rec as they faced St Mary’s FC in the Round 2 clash in the All Sport Insurance Ireland match at Park Way (writes Jim Masson©).
Comber Rec were two key players missing due to suspensions… captain and midfielder Simon Hanna and striker Dylan Wilson.
St Mary’s are lying second top of the NAFL 1C division and were on paper looking at a serious challenge against NAFL Premier Division side Comber lying in fifth spot, one point ahead of Dromara Village.
But despite the difference in leagues, St Mary’s performed as though their lives depended on it. They held Comber Rec to a 0-0 draw through extra-time and eventually were nailed by the tenth and final penalty kick at the boot of Andrew Laird Comber.
Comber started into the offensive in the first half with James Sofley having an early shot at goal. But within two minutes disaster almost struck… referee Gerry Doran went down injured with what appeared to be a tendon injury. He was piggy-backed off the pitch by the Rec’s Christopher Murray and was replaced by the physio from St Mary’s who stood in otherwise the game would have been abandoned.
Once play resumed, Lex Walker put the ball through to Dylan Donaldson who did everything in the match except score… it was an off day.
Comber were using the wings more and seemed to be stronger in midfield and appeared to be getting the better of St Mary’s… but the visitors kept bouncing back.
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Matthew Gibson was having a sound day in defence for Comber and sent a long ball upfield to Murray but he eventually lost possession. Then a short time later Dylan Thompson passed to James Sofely in the box but keeper Jonah Magill was on it.
Minutes later Dylan Donaldson almost headed in a cross from Brandon Nelson. Then Matthew Tumilson, who got the Player of the Match award, volleyed on target from 30 yards but keeper Magill made a fine save.
On 36 minutes St Mary’s Martin Murphy almost broke through for a shot at goal. Then Jamie Jenkins hit a cracker but Comber keeper Pollock made an excellent save.
Approaching half-time Thompson threw in to Sofley for a header but keeper Magill again was up for the ball in a flash.
Both keepers had performed faultlessly so far and the fact that there was no score yet is,in retrospect, not surprising.
The second half commenced with Comber on the attack. They tended to dominate the half with St Mary”s making occasional dangerous breaks.
Sofley was never far from the St Mary’s box lurking for a goal, but this match so far had been frustrating for the home side and it showed in their play with anxiety levels on the up making them snatch as shots at goal on some occasions.
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Tumilson crossed to Murray who just went wide of the right hand corner. Then Elliot Willson came on a sub and Comber started to attack more. Sofely flicked the ball over to Wilson who was just wide of the right hand post with his shot.
The frustration in the Comber players was palpable and it was a credit to lower league team St Mary’s for holding back the Comber forwards.
Coming into the game more in the second half, Christopher Gaw won a corner which Sofley hit low, but it went wide.
Minutes later, Gaw struck a volley low but that too inched wide. It seemed ‘inevitable’ given the work-rate that Comber would get a goal before the whistle… but it wasn’t to be so.
Comber has a close shave when St Mary’s Harry Griffin almost headed in on one of St Mary’s break-outs.
Comber threw the kitchen sink at St Mary’s who remarkably stood their ground.
Through extra-ime the match ground on with misses from both sides. Then it went to a penalty shoot-out. St Mary’s won the toss and went first. Matthew Tumilson, Dylan Donaldson, James Sofely and Elliot Wilson all scored for Comber. St Mary’s dropped a goal and the final kick went to sub Andrew Laird… the Clarence Cup future rested on his shoulders.
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He stepped up to the spot and took his shot flawlessly despite the butterflies that must have been flapping around.
So Comber are through to Round Three of the Clarence Cup and will have a stronger team to face their opponents in their next hurdle.
As for St Mary’s, their Clarence Cup journey has ended but they put up a mighty show against a side three divisions above them in the Premier League.
Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock (GK) 2 Matthew Gibson 3 Dylan Thompson 4 Lex Walker 5 Stuart Moore 6 Kristopher Gaw 7 Dylan Donaldson 8 Brandon Nelson 9 James Sofley 10 Matthew Tumilson (CP) 11 Christopher Murray. Subs: 12 Eliot Wilson 14 Christian Irvine 15 Andrew Laird.
St Mary’s FC: 1 Jonah Magill 2 Lewis McFadden 3 Eoghan O’Hare 4 Harry Griffin 5 Matthew Deighan 6 Adam Watkiss 7 Jamie Jenkins 8 Conor Kearney (C) 9 Patrick Quinn 10 Martin Murphy 11 Saul Boyle. Subs: 12 Jack Campbell 14 Peter Smyth 17 Jude Stewart.
