Comrades cup dream comes to an end
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Ballyclare cut out the ball at Dixon Park. BL4021
Ballyclare Comrades 1. Carrick Rangers 3.
(Carrick Rangers won 4-2 on aggregate)
Wednesday 24th September 2008
Co-operative Insurance Cup (Second Round - Second Leg).
A disastrous first half performance brought and end to Comrades hopes of progressing to the third round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup, as they slumped to a 3-1 second leg defeat at home to local rivals Carrick Rangers.
For this match manager Jamesy Kirk was unable to select the suspended Ryan Murray, sent off in the first leg 1-1 draw on Saturday. In came new on-loan signing from Glentoran, Andy Ferguson. Gary Bell was also unavailable through injury, with Andy Forsythe coming in for his first start since returning to the club in the summer.
Comrades could have been expected to be fairly buoyant after coming from behind with 10 men at Taylor's Avenue to get a deserved 1-1 draw. Certainly the opening minutes of the match gave little sign of what was to follow as the home side did most of the pressing. Brown in the Carrick goal was not unduly tested however, with the closest effort being a stooping Evan Forsythe header which went a couple over the bar from 14 yards, after a clearance from a corner had fallen to him.
On 18 minutes Comrades were stunned as their away goal advantage was wiped out by Carrick's opener. A poor clearance by Andy Long went to Wilkinson, whose cross from the left was met by a fine glancing header from McNamee 8 yards out which gave Ian Mannus no chance as it flew into the net.
Carrick grew in confidence from this point on and at the same time Comrades began to look extremely shaky defensively, an area which is usually a strong point of the team. The visitors looked capable of scoring with every attack such was the discomfort of the home side and on 23 minutes the second goal came. A decent low Taggart shot from just inside the box was pushed wide of the post by Ian Mannus, but only fell to the feet of O'Hare, who slammed the ball home from inside the 6-yard box.
Comrades now needed three goals to take back the lead in the tie, but this did not look likely as they struggle to make an impression against a determined and well organised Carrick defence.
Things got even worse for the home side on 35 minutes when Carrick scored a third goal with O'Hare getting his head to a pinpoint cross and nodding home from 10 yards, with the Comrades defence in disarray.
The home side managed to get to half-time without further damage being inflicted and a half-time Jamesy Kirk changed things around with Eddie Hill coming on to add to the attacking options in place of Andy Long.
Probably stung by the words of the management team at half-time, Comrades looked to have a much better shape in the second half, although it has to be said the tie was all but lost, barring a miracle recovery.
Carrick, having more or less booked their passage to the next round were content to soak up whatever pressure Comrades could apply and attack on the break.
The visitors' confidence may have been slightly shaken on the hour when Comrades pulled a goal back. A good strike from outside the left edge of the box by Mark Craig was only parried out by Brown straight to the feet of Eddie Hill, who tucked the ball home from 7 yards.
Comrades to their credit continued to press for the unlikely recover and on 67 minutes it looked like it might have been possible when Andy Forsythe jinked past three defenders as he cut in from the left, but as he was about to shoot from a great position 9 yards from goal, the ball took a horrendous bobble off a divot and he consequently ballooned his effort well over the bar.
If this chance had been taken then the final quarter of the game may have been very interesting, but as it was Carrick were able to comfortably cruise to victory, with Comrades only effort of note coming on 72 minutes, as Mark Craig headed wide from 14 yards from a free-kick played in by Eddie Hill.
The night was to get even worse for the home team six minutes from the end of normal time, when a tackle on the right touchline from stalwart defender Paul Caldwell saw the referee reach for the red card and for the second game in a row Comrades had a man sent off. The sending off bemused most in the ground as the tackled looked strong but fair.
Carrick then almost increased their lead on 87 minutes when a shot from the edge of the box by Costello was cleared off the line by Evan Forsythe.
In the end Carrick deservedly won the game after taking advantage of a very jittery looking Comrades side, who just did not perform on the night and lost their eight game unbeaten run in very disappointing style.
Ballyclare Comrades team
Ian Mannus, Andy Long, Paul Caldwell, Evan Forsythe, Andrew Ferguson, Michael Smith, Simon McGowan, Stuart McClean, Andy Forsythe, Ronnie Burns, Mark Craig
Subs: Eddie Hill (46 mins, for Long), Aaron Wallace (72 mins, for Ferguson), Andy Simms (not used), Davy Freyne (not used), Paddy Flood (not used)
