Comber Rec beat Willowbank in McCombs Coach Travel Intermediate Cup Round One
McCombs Coach Travel Intermediate Cup Round .
Venue: Park Way, Comber, on Saturday 11th October 2025,
Final Result: Comber Rec 4 0 Willowbank FC.
As teams across Northern Ireland lined up for the McCombs Coach Travel Intermediate Cup Round One, the weather looked very settled with no wind or rain.
Comber Rec got off to a cautious start against Willowbank who were showing considerable flare and pace in the early stages taking Comber head on and making an impression for themselves.
Comber were under-strength having several players out of action: captain Simon Hanna was on holidays, goalkeeper Corey was injured, Chris Murray was suspended, and Elliot Wilson was just back on the bench as a reserve after suffering a nasty head injury requiring a number of staples.
However, Comber got the measure of the visitors and started a number of strong runs into the Willowbank half, often led by Dylan Donaldson on the right. James Sofely, Matthew Tumilson and Brandon Nelson too were all connecting well.
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After a few near misses, Comber went a goal ahead in the 35th minute when James Sofley hammered the ball into the back of the Willowbank net at close quarters following a long ball in and a defensive error.
Comber gained confidence and started pressing more and the attacks on their goal dropped off when the ball was in their opponent’s half most of the time.
Willowfield did mount a few useful attacks and on one occasion, Gary Hastings hit a volley just wide of the Comber post signifying Comber were not entirely out of the woods with a slender 1-0 lead.
Comber went into second period looking the more dominant of the sides despite having key played unavailable. But Sofley was builoding up a head of steam and almost scored when Willowband half back Ciaran Manson (captain) made a great tackle just on time.
But Comber was too hot to handle and in the 50th minute Dylan Donaldson, the dynamic dribbler, received a pass into the box from Mattew Tumilson and Donaldson steadied himself under pressure and delivered and excellent strike into the middle of the Willowbank goal.
In a quick reply, Declan Gill made a charge into the Comber half and was after a few yards expertly dispossessed by Comber midfielder Kris Gaw.
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Comber had won a few corners and were pressing well and eventually the third goal came from a sharp cross from Brandon Nelson to Matthew Gibson who the Comber won player of the match. Gibson whipped the ball into the net and Comber were enjoying a strong 3-0 lead on 56 minutes.
Three minutes later Sofley struck again from a cross from the left and slotted the ball in comfortably
Then the Comber bench made a good move by refreshing the team with three players – Dylan Wilson for Sofley, Oliver Wilson for Brandon Nelson and Stuart Hanna for Christian Irvine.
In the later stages of the game, defender Lex Walker hit a peach of a shot on target but it went off a defender for a corner. Then Dylan Willson passed to Kris Gaw whose shot just went inches wide of the post. And sub Stuart Hanna hit just over the top bar. And Gaw once again made a powerful strike from a Dylan Donaldson pass but his shot ricocheted off the right hand post.
There was no way back for the NAFL First Division side Willowbank who only managed occasional sorties into the Comber half. Comber were the dominant force and brimmed with confidence.
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Overall this was a strong performance from an under-strength Comber team which show courage, resilience and determination against an equally talented and motivated Willobank side. The fans were a bit quiet in the first half hour but Sofley’s opener gave them something to look forward too and the team delivered once again.
The Comber man of the Match was Matthew Gibson who defended well and made an excellent contribution scoring a goal and in helping to break down Willowbank.
Comber Rec: 1 Andrew Topping (GK) 2 Matthew Gibson 3 Lex Walker 4 Christian Irvine 5 Stuart Moore 6 Kristopher Gaw 7 Dylan Donaldson 8 Stephen Fleck 9 James Sofley 10 Matthew Tumlinson (C) 11 Brandon Nelson. Subs: 12 Dylan Wilson 14 Stuart Hanna 15 Oliver Wilson 16 Gareth McKeown 17 Reece Whittle.
Willowbank FC: 1 Owen Kennedy (GK) 2 Michael McClory 3 Eamon McFadden 4 Barry Webb 5 Ciaran Manson (C) 6 Noel Halfpenny 7 Declan Gill 8 Gary Hastings 9 Richard McAvoy. 10 Arberi Karrabecaj 11 Lee McGuinness. Subs: 12 Odhran Bellew 14 Oisin Crawford 16 Barra Bellew 17 Ryan McAreavey.
