Comber Rec Beat Lisburn Rangers At The Final Whistle In Tight Struggle
ToalsBet.com Steel & Sons Cup Round 4,
Stanley Park, Lisburn on Saturday 30th September 2023,
Lisburn Rangers 2 3 Comber Rec.
The very heavy rain at Stanley Park in this Round 4 clash made play difficult for everyone on the pitch and the spectators who never-the-less enjoyed an exciting game of soccer writes Jim Masson ©.
Lisburn Rangers were first to show their metal by challenging Comber in the early stage of the match but initially Comber held their ground and settled into the match as Lisburn harried them.
Jonathan Smith made a strong run down the left threatening the Comber goal but keeper Corey Pollock had a great game and was on form to get this shot under control.
Lisburn again played a long ball up front rattling the Comber defence.
Then in the fourth minute Lisburn defender Aaron Smyth went down with a suspected tendon injury and was replaced by Andre Ginn in the No 12 shirt.
Comber seemed content to ride out the Lisburn attacks and soak them up.
Eventually they moved forward and Elliot Wilson was taken down by Ginn 8 yards outside the Lisburn box… their first opportunity. But keeper Sean Saunders held the ball well.
The game was physical and minutes later as Comber pressed forward defender Ciaran Gillan was taken down at the half way line.
Then on a break Ben Chapman crossed firmly to Smith and Benjamin Roy but they did not make contact with the ball in the goal area, an opportunity missed.
But Lisburn kept up the pressure on Comber and Smith passed to William Bingam who won a free kick.
Comber managed to make a quick break and Dylan Wilson made a fine challenge to the defence weaving his way through and hit a corker of a low shot on target from the back of the Lisburn box but keeper Saunders made an excellent dive to block it on 18 minutes.
Then on 20 minutes Lisburn charged the Comber goal and Bingham netted from a short distanced putting the home side a goal up.
The match tighted up a few notches and Bingham and Gary Dorrian received yellow cards.
Lisburn were playing with an air of confidence in their familiar surroundings.
A long ball to Wilson almost paid off but it was well read by Dorrian who headed it clear.
Comber continued with a number of solid attacks looking for the elusive equaliser.
The match trundled on in the rain with both side battling for advantage in what was now a fairly even contest.
Then Lisburn enjoyed another bit of good fortune in an attack on the Comber goal when a shot from Bingham deflected off Harry Grierson for an own goal putting Lisburn 2-0 up on 40 minutes.
On 44 minutes Jack Wasson received a yellow card next for felling Comber defender Ciaran Gillan. But Comber were not lying down and fighting back.
Comber replaced Grierson with Matthew Tumilson on 46 minutes. Comber had their tails up.
On 54 minutes the hard graft paid off for Comber.
Kris Gaw pulled a goal back for Comber when he hit the ball into the middle of the Lisburn net from inside the box. The match was now on a knife edge as both teams geared up.
The attacks by Lisburn on the Comber goal seemed to dry up as Comber asserted themselves in the dour struggle.
Then the dam broke. Dylan Wilson equalised for Comber with a solid shot 9 minutes after Gaw’s goal from the middle of the Lisburn box creating a pivotal moment in the match.
But there was one serious moment of danger for Comber as Smith and Roy battled towards the Comber goal but the confident hands of Corey Pollack broke the attack.
Then Lisburn winger Bingam broke again at the Comber goal but Pollack held the volley well.
As Comber kept up the pressure, sub Matthew Tumlison hit a screamer at the Lisburn goal but it just rose over the top post.
Comber were demonstrating that they wanted the win more. Their motivation was apparent in the way they executed their attacks and defended as a team.
Lisburn did make sporadic attacks on the Comber patch and one opportunity with a cross from Jonathan Gray to Chapman and Smith was cleared efficiently by the Comber defence but showed that Lisburn were still pushing for a win.
And Lisburn did have another chance when Roy hit a free over the bar.
Comber were now showing serious determination and forcing the Lisburn defender back. Devine shouldered a Comber player and the free kick taken by Wilson was spot on target but it was met with an equally great save from Lisburn keeper Saunders.
Both keepers had an excellent game making crucial saves with a ball that must have been as slippery as a bucket of eels.
(Simon) Hanna, Nelson and Moore picked up yellow cards too for Comber as they drove hard for the winning goal in injury time.
Then the heavens opened up for Comber.
They forced the ball into the Lisburn box 3 minutes into injury time and Stuart Hanna seized the moment.
Hanna hammered the ball into the Lisburn net denying the home side of the chance of a win in extra time as the teams hung at 2-2.
It must have been heart-wrenching for Lisburn Rangers to be knocked out by a late goal.
The relief among the Comber players and indeed the loyal supporters who travelled on the day was palpable and the best team won on the day, but it was a close struggle for most of the game.
With Drumaness Mills going down to Derriaghy CC 2-3, and Hollywood beating Mossley 3-6, and Bangor losing to Willowbank 2-1, all eyes will now be on the Down’s Holywood and Comber teams in the R5 quarter finals as teh last 8 teams battle it out.
Lisburn Rangers: 1 Sean Saunders (GK) 2 Aaron Smyth 3 Dean Farr 4 Edward Begley 5 Gary Dorrian 6 Jack Wasson (C) 7 Samuel Devine 8 Ben Chapman 9 Jonathan Smith 10 Benjamin Roy 11 William Bingam. Subs: 12 Andrew Ginn 14 Jonathan Gray 15 Matthew Woods 16 Stephen Curley.
Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock (GK) 2 Ciaran Gillan 3 Brandon Nelson 4 Stuart Moore 5 Reece Whittle 6 Kris Gaw 7 Dylan Wilson 8 Simon Hanna (C) 9 Brett Conville 10 Harry Grierson 11 Elliot Wilson. Subs: 12 Ben McMorris 14 Stuart Hanna 15 Matthew Gibson 16 Matthew Tumlinson 17 Lex Walker.
