Comber Rec sail through to Round 3 of the Clarence Cup after strong win over Newtownbreda
The NAFL,
Clarence Cup Round 2,
Venue: Park Way, Comber. On 21st December 2024,
Final Score: Comber Rec 4 0 Newtownbreda.
The first half in this Clarence Maynes Round Two Cup clash got off to a bang with Lex Walker’s early goal within the first minute before Newtwonbreda could settle putting Comber quickly into the lead writes Jim Masson.
He received a pass from the right and drew the ball left shooting right past keeper Daniel Rosbotham close in.
The rest of the half saw Comber make a number of attacks without results and Newtownbreda who are in the NAFL Division 2B. But the visitors did make a number of challenges to the Comber goal on a couple of occasions but keeper Corey Pollack was on top form.
Matters livened up in the second half when Brett Conville replaced Kristopher Gaw on the right. Brett started making scything attacks into the Newtownbreda half.
(Photos by Jim Masson/DownNews©).
At the same time stalwart Elliot Wilson came on beefing up the front line and Ciaran Gillian came off.
And in the 53rd minute Reece Whittle came on replacing captain Simon Hanna.
The front Comber front line stepped up the action and a cross to Elliot Wilson almost paid off but was just too far to reach.
Newtownbreda did try an attack and won a corner but it was promptly cleared by Dylan Donaldson. Comber came back pushing hard against the visitors and Donaldson almost scored but keeper Rosbotham came out quickly to secure the ball.
Goal opportunities began to open up for Comber Rec and Conville made a spot on cross to Matthew Tumilson but again keeper Rosbotham was on the ball – literally.
Comber Rec had made a few efforts at the Newtownbreda goal and eventually Conville headed down to the right hand post to claim goal number two for Comber in the 84th minute.
And a minute later a determined Elliot Wilson picked out goal number three for Comber Rec from a scamble with defenders in front of the Newtownbreda goal just nipping the ball over the line salvaging a goal against three defenders and the keeper.
Lex Walker closed the scoring in the 89th minute in style with a classic header to the top of the Newtownbreda net.
This was a convincing late win for Comber Rec. The subs who came on in the second half – Brett Conville, Elliot Wilson and Reece Whittle all played their part on securing the win for Comber Rec.
The score could have been much higher, but Comber looked as though they were just stretching their legs before their Border Cup match against Crumlin Star on Friday 27th December at 2.45pm at Seaview, Belfast.
Comber Rec will be only too familiar with what Crumlin Star can throw at them, but Comber are an even more formidable side this season and will be much more focussed on winning.
Last time round they faced Crumlin star in the Steel and Sons Cup and won, but this year they have no such distractions going into the Border Cup Final.
Comber Rec: 1 Corey Pollock (GK) 2 Matthew Gibson 3 Lex Walker 4 Christian Irvine 6 Stephen Fleck 7 Dylan Wilson 8 Simon Hanna (C) 9 Dylan Donaldson 10 Matthew Tumilson 11 Kristopher Gaw 14 Ciaran Gillian. Subs: 5 Reece Whittle 12 Brett Conville 15 Elliot Wilson.
Newtownbreda FC: 1 Daniel Rosbotham (GK) 2 Joshua Ness 5 Jamie Ashenhurst 6 Jonathan Luke 7 David Johnston 8 Mark McMurray 9 Michael Flanaghan (C) 10 Ryan Wilson 12 Ben Donaldson 14 Christopher Pollock 15 Christopher Guiney.
