The NAFL,
Premier League match,
Venue: Park Way, Comber, 25 4 26,
Final Score: Comber Rec 2 1 Drumaness Mills.
Comber Rec had a two goal lead but Drumaness came with a late goal challenging for a draw
For the first 15 minutes, Comber were pressing Drumaness who tried to ride out the storm. Comber kept up a relentless attack on the visitors who surprisingly held out well writes Jim Masson.
Jack Sharvin made a few good crosses, the first to Sean Paul Holland then one to Callum Dougan but the Comber back line was quite clinical in its clearing up.
Up front, Dylan Donaldson was working hard trying to break down the Drumaness defense and Elliot Wilson and Mathew Tumilson too was making fine runs at the Drumaness goal.
But both teams face a phenomenon they were definitely not used to … heat and good weather. Play became settled as the players paced themselves making frequent use of their waterbottles.
As the game progressed, Drumaness striker Jack Sharvin went down with an injury in the Comber box which seemed to have slowed him down.
Donalson took a snap shot from 40 yards and it almost paid off but was held well by Drumaness keeper Marc Reid. There were a couple of injury stoppages again which the players were glad off in the heat. Play had at times become languid, the players feeling the strain of the long hard season.
As Callum Dougan made a charge towards the Comber box, Kris Gaw took his down and a foul was awarded. Sharvin stepped up to the ball but the shot was eventually held under control by keeper Andrew Topping.
Then as half-time approached, Comber Captain Simon Hanna launched a low volley which went wide.
The teams went back to the changing rooms at half-time scoreless.
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In the second half, Donaldson fired up and tortured the Drumaness defence but Gary Murdoch’s back line held well. Then gradually, Drumaness were finding opportunities to make incursions into the Comber half and the game seemed balanced.
But Jack Sharvin had to be replaced by McGivern on 48 minutes due to injury.
Aaron Mooney hit a screacher at the Comber goal on target but keeper Topping just managed to push it out for a corner. Then Callum Douigan was pressing the Comber goal.
Callum Dougan made a great cross through to Drumaness defender Keegan Domican whose shot flew over the top bar.
Then on another break Donaldson again pressed the Drumaness defenders. But the visitors broke and Domican sent a low voloy across the Comber goal just missing the back post
But quickly, the ball went upfield and Comber broke quickly on the attack and a shot at the Drumaness goal bounced off keeper Reid and Simon Hanna was there to collect the rebound and hammer the ball into the middle of the Drumaness net on 57 minutes.
Drumaness fought back but the pressure again built up on the visitors. Then Chris Murray who came on as a sub replacing Elliot Wilson his a powerful volley from outside the box which rose over the Drumaness top bar.
Comber kept up the pressure in the heat and after the water break, Lex Walker passed to Dylan Donaldson who put the ball through to top goal scorer James Sofley whose shot ricocheted off keeper Reid for a corner.
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Christopher Murray again sent a Donaldson cross over the top bar. But on the 81st minute he headed the ball home to put Comber two goals ahead.
Drumaness roared back into life albeit late and challenged the Comber goal. Then as the game was almost finished, Callum Dougan popped the ball over the line in a scramble in front of the Comber goal-mouth.
Perhaps another 5 minutes might have seen a draw between the two sides, but Comber had done enough on a hot day with their keeper Corey Pollock still out with a head injury.
Comber sitting mid table have five games left this season and three are against East Belfast, Derriaghy CC and Lisburn Rangers. It will be a hard end of the season but a summer recess will be welcomed to refresh for the 2026-27 season ahead.
Drumaness are positioned third from the bottom, but they are 4 points clear of Mossley and Kilmore Rec is languishing on the bottom of the league, so they should survive in the Premier League to fight another day.
