Battling Comrades are edged out
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Portadown ...................1
Ballyclare Comrades .....0
Saturday 11th October 2008 - IFA Championship
COMRADES got back to League action for the first time in a number of weeks with a very tough fixture at title favourites Portadown.
Jamesy Kirk's men came away with nothing after a 1-0 defeat, but an encouraging display gives hope that the side can soon start to climb the table. For this match, defensive stalwarts Paul Caldwell and Ryan Murray were suspended after recent harsh sending-offs. Into the side came Andy Long at centre-back, with Ronnie Burns also coming into the line up in an unfamiliar right wing role.
The home side started strongly and Comrades were soon on the back foot, having to defend desperately to kept their goal intact. In the 2nd minute a ball slipped inside Davy Freyne by Boyle sent McCutcheon through, but he was denied by a terrific Evan Forsythe tackle deep inside the box.
Comrades were having to be at their best defensively to keep Portadown at bay and it looked like being a very long afternoon for Kirk's men. On 14 minutes Ian Mannus had to be well positioned to save from a Taggert snap shot from 9 yards out.
At the other end Comrades chances were limited, but on 16 minutes the lively Eddie Hill did very well to win the ball and strike a good shot from yards which tested Miskelly in the home goal.
Portadown really should have taken the lead on 19 minutes. McCutcheon got to the ball before Ian Mannus on the left of the 6 yard box and then played the ball across to Boyle, who somehow managed to slice the his effort wide with an open goal beckoning.
This was a real let off for Comrades, but they made the most of it with very solid and committed defending for the rest of the half. Indeed it took a special effort from McCutcheon to test Ian Mannus next, when the Ports striker hit a great overhead kick from just outside the box, and the Comrades keeper had to be alert to save low just inside the post.
In the 34th minute the impressive Eddie Hill again showed that he could cause a threat to the home side when he struck a fine effort from outside the left corner of the box, which Miskelly did well to save.
Portadown however, continued to have the vast bulk of the attacking play. On 35 minutes Mouncey headed over from a corner. Then, a minute later, the ball deflected in a crowded penalty area to McCutcheon but he was denied inside the 6 yard box by a good block from Ian Mannus.
Comrades would have been glad to go in at half-time level, having survived the home side's onslaught, but it might have been event better as a good chance was created for the visitors 3 minutes from the break. With the home defence uncharacteristically stretched Simon McGowan slipped a ball through to release Eddie Hill for a good chance just inside the box, but the Comrades strikers was denied by a superb save from Miskelly who rushed out to block his shot.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first, with the home side pressing and Comrades defending manfully and trying to construct attacks when possible.
On 48 minutes a corner from the left found the head of Mouncey and his powerful effort flew just over the bar from 8 yards. However, 6 minutes later, Portadown got the breakthrough from another corner from the left, although not without a slice of luck. The ball was played in hard and low and flew to the far post where Evan Forsythe cleared it off the line only to see the ball stabbed in by Topley, who was almost prone on the ground 5 yards out.
Rather than letting their heads go down after this setback, Comrades rallied and whilst maintaining the same solid defensive play, looked to get forward more. On 58 minutes a Davy Freyne corner was met by a stooping Mark Craig header 8 yards, but the ball deflected off a defender and just over the bar.
The home side also continued to press, attempting to finish the game off. On 61 minutes Ian Mannus had to push a shot from the right side of the box by McCutcheon past the post. A minute later McCutcheon again was denied as Michael Smith cleared and effort from just inside the box off the line.
Comrades created a good chance for an equaliser on 64 minutes. Eddie Hill did very well to cut the ball back from the by-line to the right of the goal into the path of Ronnie Burns 12 yards out, but the resulting shot flew just wide of the target.
Two minutes later, it was Portadown with a chance as Mouncey did well to turn and shoot from 14 yards, but Ian Mannus tipped the ball wide of the post.
As the came drew to it conclusion, Comrades began to seriously press for an equaliser and on 89 minutes they came desperately close to getting it. Eddie Hill was again the danger man, getting on the end of a long ball down the middle and lobbing the outrushing keeper from just outside the box, only to see his effort come down of the underside of the crossbar and spin back out off the line.
Even then, there was time for another chance a minute later, when with Comrades pressing the ball broke to Stuart McClean 10 yards out, but his first time effort lacked the power to seriously trouble Miskelly.
In the end, it was Portadown who were relieved to hear the final whistle. On the balance of play they deserved the win, but Comrades can be proud of a battling display, which promises better things for the future. Defensively they were excellent, despite the absence of important players and, although under the cosh for much of the game, the side always tried to play constructive passing football.
Ballyclare Comrades team
Ian Mannus, Michael Smith, Andy Long, Evan Forsythe, Davy Freyne, Ronnie Burns, Simon McGowan, Stuart McClean, Gary Bell, Eddie Hill, Mark Craig
Bench: Andrew Ferguson (68 mins, for Burns), Aaron Wallace (82 mins, for Bell), Andy Simms (not used), Kyle Agnew (not used), Darren Nelson (not used)
