In front of a large crowd under the Dixon Park lights, Comrades were within just over a minute of taking a strong Linfield side to penalties in this County Antrim Shield tie.

The home side looked sharp from the kick-off, fired up to make amends for a couple of poor recent performance. To the delight of their supporters, they took a shock lead inside five minutes. An incisive move saw the ball fed out to Brian Healy in space on the left and he surged into the box before striking a sweetly hit shot which saw the ball go into the net off the far post.

This woke up the visitors who began to boss the attacking play. On 12 minutes they came close when Annett got on the end of a low ball played into the box by Archer and struck an effort at the near post which was deflected just wide. In the 18^th minute Linfield grabbed an equaliser. A great cross sent in by Mulgrew found the head of the towering Roscoe who made no mistake, powering in from close range.

Six minutes later the hosts conceded a penalty when Lewis Tennant brought down Mulgrew on the byline. Fitzpatrick stepped up to take the spot-kick but was denied by a fine save from Adam Ritchie.

Comrades continued to compete well and unsettled their high-class opponents. In the 36^th minute good pressing saw the ball break to Brian Healy on the right. He sent a teasing ball into the box, which was met by Darius Roohi, but Walsh was well positioned to make a smart save. Then, on 39 minutes, the hosts had an even better opportunity to retake the lead. Brian Healy did very well to get past a defender on the right side of the box and strike a shot which was parried out by the ‘keeper. The loose ball fell to Lee McGreevy in a great position. He struck an effort on target only to be denied by a superb goal-line clearance by Whiteside. The visitors came close to taking the lead a minute into added time at the end of the first half. After a scramble in the box Fitzpatrick set up Annett for what looked like an easy chance, but his effort was kept out by a fine reaction safe from Adam Ritchie.

Comrades started the second half positively. Five minutes in, Michael Morgan produced a thrilling mazy run past a number of challenges before unleashing a shot from just outside the area which flew over the bar.

Linfield had introduced their star player Joel Cooper, former Comrades player and Ballyclare native, after the break. It was he who gave his side the lead in the 55^th minute when he struck a great curling shot from 25 yards which went in under the bar. Showing respect for his former club and hometown team, he refused to celebrate the goal. Cooper again showed his class four minutes later when he struck the base of the post with a free kick effort from 22 yards out.

Comrades were far from finished and on 67 minute they were back on level terms. Michael Morgan hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box which Walsh couldn’t hold. Darius Roohi was in the right place, following up to knock the ball into the net past the stranded ‘keeper.

The hosts now had their tails up. On 72 minutes they had a chance to retake the lead. Cillin Gilmour played a diagonal ball forward towards Michael Morgan, which slipped under the foot of McCullough, allowing Morgan to race into the box. However, he delayed his shot and McCullough redeemed himself by getting back to make a block.

With the match set to go straight to penalties, Linfield piled forward with a wave of attacks late in the game, with Comrades having to deal with several crosses into the box. On 89 minutes from one such cross, sent in by McClean, McBrien headed against the bar. Comrades defended tenaciously and it looked as if they would deservedly take the game to spot-kicks as the time ebbed away. However, they were denied by a Linfield winner five minutes into stoppage time. Another cross came into the area and this time a Comrades head couldn’t get to it, with McKee heading in from 5 yards.

The final whistle came shortly afterwards, and the home supporters clapped their team off after they had given their all in a thrilling encounter.

Many thanks to our match sponsor for this game B Craig & Co, and to our two ball sponsors Ernest Hall Menswear and Trade Bathrooms NI.