10 man comrades earn away draw
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Carrick 1. Ballyclare Comrades 1.
Saturday 20th September 2008 - Co-operative Insurance Cup (Second Round - First Leg).
COMRADES produced a good second half display, to come from behind with 10 men and salvage a draw in this first leg Co-operative Insurance Cup tie at Taylor's Avenue.
Jamesy Kirk stuck with the same side that had started the previous two games, which meant that Eddie Hill, returning from injury, started on the bench.
The visitors started strongly, pressing Carrick back with a number of attacking moves. In the 4th minute a Ronnie Burns free-kick from the left side found the head of Ryan Murray under challenge at the back post area, but his effort was hacked clear of the line by a defender.
Carrick were content at this stage to play on the break. However, they almost grabbed the lead on 9 minutes, when Simon McGowan was robbed on the halfway line and Costello ran through into the box, but Ian Mannus did very well to save at his feet.
Comrades' early dominance of pressure faded as the half progressed and Carrick began to look slightly the more threatening side. On 21 minutes they almost capitalised from some uncharacteristically slack defending in the box, which allowed Taggart space to hit a shot from 8 yards out to the right of the goal, but Ian Mannus blocked his effort at the near post.
Carrick had looked dangerous from set-pieces and on 28 minutes this is how they took the lead. They won a free-kick touch-line on the right level with the box. The ball was whipped in by Irwin and McNamee got his head to it, send it low into the net, despite a good effort by Ian Mannus to keep the ball from crossing the line.
A minute later a good swift move up field saw Andy Long cross from the right to the far post, where Ronnie Burns headed it towards goal, but the keeper Brown was well positioned to save.
Ten minutes from the end of the half Jamesy Kirk tried to spark his side into life by altering the formation to 4-4-2, having started with a 3-5-2 set up. However, on 43 minutes his tactical plans were thrown into disarray when his side had a man dismissed. Ryan Murray and Irwin went in for what looked like a no holes barred 50/50 challenge. However, the referee took exception to the challenges of both players, but bizarrely sent of Murray and only booked Irwin.
Despite being up against it, 1-0 down and a man short, Comrades began the second half in lively fashion and indeed looked the team with a numerical advantage. On 51 minutes they grabbed a deserved equaliser when a spell of pressure ended with Michael Smith driving a fine cross into the box with pace, which Ronnie Burns met with a deft header from 10 yards that looped in under the bar.
Comrades were now looking the better side, attacking with purpose and defending solidly at the other end. On 54 minutes a piercing through ball by Simon McGowan cut open the home defence and Carrick were only saved as Brown raced out of his goal to clear at the edge of the box and Ronnie Burns was about to latch on to the ball.
Four minutes later Gary Bell and Mark Craig played a neat one-two which set up Bell for a shot from the left corner of the box, but Brown saved comfortably.
On 62 minutes Comrades created a couple more half chances. Firstly Stuart McClean hit a drive from the right side of the box from a difficult angle which stung the fingers of Brown. Then, seconds later, Ronnie Burns did well to set up Gary Bell for a shot from just outside the box, but his effort went a couple of feet over.
Michael Smith, having another typically impressive match, did well on 71 minutes to turn and shoot from 18 yards, but his effort went wide of the far post.
Although down to 10 men, Comrades were doing as much attacking as Carrick and looking more threatening. At the back Comrades were dealing well with the home sides counter-attacks, with the defenders and midfielders getting through a lot of work.
The closing stages of the match saw defences on top and chances were at a premium. The only effort of note, and Carrick's only real chance of the second half, came on 79 minutes when a low cross from the right was met by O'Hare whose dinked effort went a foot or so past the near post from 8 yards.
In the end the game drifted to its finish as a draw, with Comrades obviously the happier side, having played the second half with a one man disadvantage. The management and supporters can be very happy with how they reacted to this adversity and the effort put in by the players all over the park.
The result keeps the tie very much alive for both sides with the second leg coming up in mid-week and, as games between these two clubs are usually very close, it could go to the wire.
Ballyclare Comrades team
Ian Mannus Paul Caldwell, Evan Forsythe, Ryan Murray, Michael Smith, Simon McGowan, Andy Long, Stuart McClean (capt), Gary Bell Ronnie Burns, Mark Craig
Bench: Eddie Hill (78 mins, for Burns), Andy Forsythe (82 mins, for Long), Aaron Wallace (88 mins, for Craig), Andy Simms (not used), Davy Freyne (not used)
