Premier League Title Now In Sight For Comber Rec Following Win Over Crumlin Star
The NAFL,
Premier League,
Venue: Park Way, on 24 5 25,
Final Score: Comber Rec 3 0 Crumlin Star.
A huge crowd turned up for this final clash between the two contenders for the Premier League, Comber Rec and Crumlin Star.
With a light wind blowing down the pitch and an odd sprinkle of rain, conditions were good and both teams were gearing up for this showdown following the Crumlin Star 0-1 over Comber in the Clarence Mayes Cup Final on 20 5 25 writes Jim Masson.
Earlier in the season, East Belfast were front runners in the league, then Derriaghy CC were looking good for a spell, but Crumlin Star came on strong challenging and pushed to near the top.
But Comber is now leading on 55 points having played 24 games with two games in hand. Derriaghy CC is on 53 points having played their 26 matches, and Crumlin Star have a game to play in against Mossley on Monday evening to stay in the race for the league title.
However, Comber are two points to the good already with 2 matches to go against Mossley who are lying 10th. In theory, a win for Comber on Wednesday evening SHOULD secure the league title. After Mossley’s match against Star on Monday, Mossley may not be in great shape to face Comber who clearly are on a mission.
Towards the end of the match as Crumlin Star were being beaten 3-0, three significant scuffles started on the pitch between players as tensions mounted but the situation was well managed by the referee.
The match started off fairly quietly, both teams sounding each other out. Comber’s Kristopher Gaw rattled off a strong low volley from the back of the Star box after 6 minutes in but it was well held by keeper Ciaran McNeill.
Kris made a remarkable recovery after receiving a nasty leg injury in the Clarence Cup match and played for the whole duration of the game.
Minutes after, a long ball down to Brandon Nelson saw his head it down for Brett Conville whose shot went inches wide of the Star post. Comber had made an early clear statement… they were in it to win it.
The Star fought back and won a free kick and winger Martin Donnelly too was just wide with his shot.
On 12 minutes, Nelson probing the Star defences unleashed a drive low on target but keeper McNeill just got his hand to it deflecting out for a corner.
Gradually Comber increased the pressure on Star and Comber captain was fouled by midfielder Jospeh McNeill. Captain Simon Hanna took the shot but it was well held by O’Neill. His counterpart Corey Pollock was having a relatively easy spell as Comber seemed to be dominating.
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Hanna was taken down again and defender Matthew Gibson took the free kick and earned a corner keeping the pressure on Star.
Brett Conville was working well too and a cross from Hanna saw him almost head in once again. And Conville again made a strong low header a short time after from a Hanna cross but Star captain Niall Hawkins managed to block the ball on the line.
Dylan Wilson wearing the No 7 shirt for Comber, was coming into the game strongly. He made. a quick attack down the right and won a corner. Hanna took the the corner and a lob into the pack in front of the Star goal saw Lex Walker head home to open the scoring for Comber on the 43rd minute.
This was a crucial time for Comber to assert themselves just before half-time. Star had made a number of useful breaks but Corey Pollock seemed well in control with his well disciplined defence.
The second half commenced and as expected, Crumlin Star came out fighting as the league title was starting to slip out of their grasp.
Again Conville was ploughing ahead making quick deceptive attacks, his hallmark. There was a good bit of Comber teamwork up from when Conville passed to Hanna through to Elliot Wilson at the Star goal. Comber were pulling out all the stops. Hanna had been a pillar through the whole game keeping his side motivated and focused.
Crumlin Star came back making a huge challenge to Comber and after a prolonged attack, it was Matthew Gibson who finally cleared the ball out and relieved the pressure on Comber.
Star’s Joseph O’Neill was having a positive effect in managing the midfield and pressing to the Comber goal area but the Comber defence knew they had to be on their best, and were.
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David Fearon got in a volley on target but Pollock made an excellent save.
Gradually the game got more physical and free kicks were increasing in number. Tensions started to increase as the clock ticked away. Star were desperate for an equaliser to get back into the game. They had been largely locked out by Comber pressing into their half constantly and pressurising the defence. But the Comber defence too quietly played their part keeping Star at bay.
In the 68th minute, Brett Conville who was a constant thorn in the side of Crumlin Star crossed the ball to sub Ciaran Gillan who hammered it in from the back of the Star’s box past keeper O’Neill. This was a huge relief for Comber Rec giving them a two-goal cushion in a tight match.
Dylan Donaldson came on to replace Brandon Nelson and refreshed the energy of the Comber front line.
In a push back, Joseph O’Neill took a free kick from 30 yards but it was well held by Corey Pollock.
Then Dylan Wilson who had been a warrior throughout the match made a great charge down the right and won a free kick on the edge of the box after keeper McNeil came out and fouled him outside the goa area and received a red card.
After a bit of further off the ball ‘excitement’, Lex Walker made it three nil for Comber from a free kick outside the box on 90+1 minutes. By that time a couple of on-field rows had spilled over and disrupted play. Altogether the referee had dished out 4 yellow cards to Comber Rec and 3 and a red to Crumlin Star.
But the final whistle saw Comber enjoy a good win over rivals Crumlin Star who had fought tooth and nail for everything. Star had had a few opportunities through the game but did not manage to capitalise on them.
Comber Rec had played well as a team, keeping Crumlin Star goal-less. There were strong performances from Dylan Wilson, Brett Conville, and captain Stuart Hanna, but Lex Walker must be cock-a-hoop after scoring two crucial goals… a defender … to seal Star’s fate in this crucial end-of-season Premier League clash.
The next couple of days will settle the Premier League. It has been a good season for Crumlin Star winning the coveted Clarence Mayes Cup at Seaview and chasing the Premier League title, and Comber also continue their rise in the Premier League with a good supporter base as they chase a win against Mossley on Wednesday evening at Park Way to secure the League title.
Again a large crowd mainly of Comber supporters will be on hand to celebrate… BUT, it’s never over until the final whistle and the goals are counted!
It’s the final hurdle for Comber, but on form, on paper, they should be home and dry!§
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Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock (GK) 2 Matthew Gibson 3 Lex Walker 4 Christian Irvine 5 Reece Whittle 6 Kristopher Gaw 7 Dylan Wilson 8 Simon Hanna (C) 9 Brett Conville 10 Brandon Nelson 11 Elliot Wilson. Subs: Stephen Fleck 14 Dylan Donaldson 15 Ciaran Gillan.
Crumlin Star: 1 Ciaran Mcneill (GK) 2 Nathan Watters 3 Sam McBurney 4 Niall hawkins 5 Matthew Devine 6 Joseph McNeill 7 Patrick McDiarmid 8 Mark Lyons 9 Domhnall Cosgrave 10 Stephen Smyth 11 Martin Donnelly. Subs: 12 David Fearon 14 Kevin Lynch 15 Chris Campbell.
