Comrades begin the long road to cup glory
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Oxford United Stars ......0. Ballyclare Comrades .......1.
Saturday 1st November 2008 - WKD Intermediate Cup.
COMRADES successfully negotiated the first hurdle in this season's WKD Intermediate Cup against Oxford United Stars, when a last gasp winner brought them victory after a dour struggle at the Templemore Sports Stadium.
After the disastrous result against Banbridge the previous week Jamesy Kirk rang the changes in his team selection, some enforced by the unavailability of certain players, such as suspended captain Stuart McClean.
Into the side came Ricky Higgins, after a two month injury absence, and Joe McRoberts, who had not played since the opening game of the season. Also into the line up came Kyle Agnew, for his first start since being involved in a serious car accident in the close season, Ryan Murray, Andrew Ferguson and Andy Simms.
The game, played in cold but bright, windless conditions, stared briskly with Comrades immediately on the attack. In the very first minute Mark Craig latched onto a loose ball inside the Stars box and attempted to loft a shot from 12 yards over the keeper, but Walker stretched to gather his attempt.
On 6 minutes the lively Craig was again involved, this time whipping in a low cross from the right, which was met by the arriving Ricky Higgins, who got there just before a defender inside the 6-yard box. Luckily for the home side Higgins contact took the ball just wide of the post.
The pattern of the game at this stage, as it was to be for most of the match was of Comrades attacking, but on 12 minutes Carlin produced a good burst into the box from the right and sent a shot just over the bar from 14 yards, to give Comrades a rare first half scare.
In the 15th minute a good long ball from Andy Simms found Kyle Agnew and he drove into the box and managed to get a shot in from a difficult angle, despite the attentions of a defender, but Walker saved comfortably at the near post.
Two minutes later and good work from Mark Craig and Michael Smith down the right set up an opportunity for Kyle Agnew just inside the box, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide the base of the post by a defender.
Comrades continued to dominate possession, but a well organised home defence was keeping them from having clear cut chances. However, on 31 minutes a good header on by Joe McRoberts set up a half chance for Andy Simms, but his volleyed effort from 14 yards went just wide of the target.
The visitors continued to press and on 34 minutes they looked to have received a golden opportunity to take the lead. Mark Craig did well down the right and brought down as he attempted to dart into the box. The referee decided the foul had taken place just inside the box and a penalty was given. Michael Smith stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted his effort well over the bar.
It was beginning to look like it might be another frustrating afternoon for Comrades in front of goal, when on 41 minutes a flicked effort from 6 yards by Ricky Higgins was cleared off the line by a Stars defender. Then, two minutes into injury-time at the end of the half Higgins was again denied. This time Walker saved his first-time volleyed effort from the edge of the box, after the Comrades striker has latched onto a long ball punted up field by Ian Mannus.
Comrades should have been turning round ahead, having dominated the first half, but they failed to maintain their momentum in the early stages of the second half, with play becoming increasingly scrappy and the home side coming more into it as an attacking force.
On 54 minutes Ian Mannus did well to tip a fine 20 yard shot from Carlin wide of the goal. Then, a minute later, fine work from McDaid set up a good chance for Doran, just inside the box, but he dragged his shot well wide of the target.
Comrades were finding chances hard to create, with the Stars defence sticking to their task well. However, on 62 minutes the visitors missed a very good chance, with Kyle Agnew heading a Gary Bell volleyed cross shot wide of the target from 5 yards at the far post.
Stars looked much livelier than they had in the first period and were giving the Comrades defence a few anxious moments. On 67 minutes Andrew Ferguson misjudged a bouncing ball allowing Carlin a chance from 14 yards, but his effort was saved by Ian Mannus.
Then, seconds later at the other end Comrades broke well and a Joe McRoberts cross from the right just eluded Ricky Higgins, but fell to Andy Simms just outside the 6-yard box on the left of goal. Simms' resulting effort from a difficult angle was perhaps a bit rushed and the keeper saved comfortably.
As the half progressed, Comrades began to reassert their former attacking dominance, without looking particularly convincing. On 75 minutes they came close when Mark Craig had a goal bound effort blocked by a defender in the box and then from the clearance Michael Smith struck a good shot from 20 yards which looked to be on target until a deflection took it straight into the keeper's arms.
On 84 minutes Comrades had a good chance to take the lead when a quickly take free-kick played to Ricky Higgins caught out the home defence, but with only the keeper to beat Higgins curled his effort wide of the far post from 12 yards.
Stars had spent most of the game getting men behind the ball and frustrating Comrades, but in the dying minutes of the match they had a couple of chances to snatch a surprise win. Firstly, on 89 minutes, Harkin latched onto a poor defensive clearance and struck a shot from just inside the box, forcing a decent save on his line from Ian Mannus. Then, a minute later, a good cross from the right was met by a flicked header at the near post by Carlin, but Mannus was again up to the task producing another good save.
The game looked to be inevitably heading for extra-time, when a minute into injury-time Comrades grabbed the winner. A free-kick was won 20 yards from goal in a fairly central position. Ryan Murray then stepped up and sent a shot into the net past the wrong footed keeper, much to the relief of the band of travelling Comrades fans.
The result was everything in this game for Comrades. On the balance of play they deserved the win, but Stars made it very difficult for them and it was not a game or a performance that will live long in the memory.
Ballyclare Comrades team
Ian Mannus, Michael Smith, Andrew Ferguson, Ryan Murray, Gary Bell, Mark Craig, Simon McGowan, Joe McRoberts, Andy Simms, Ricky Higgins, Kyle Agnew
Bench: Lee Lenaghan (80 mins, for McGowan), Ronnie Burns (84 mins, for Agnew), Darren Nelson (not used), Andy Long (not used), Paul Caldwell (not used).
