Comrades were second best all over the park as they slid to a deserved defeat by Armagh City at Dixon Park.

The game got off to an unfortunate start for the hosts as they went behind to a fluke goal in the third minute, when McCormack’s slice cross looped over the head of Lewis Deane and into the net. It took a while before Comrades were able to get anything going in attack, but eventually they did threaten. On 17 minutes, after good work by Billy Vance, Max Davidson drove the ball in from the left side of the box and it was met by a flicked header from Gary Warwick which flew just over the angle of bar and post.

A minute later Warwick had another attempt on goal as he shot from the edge of the area after being teed up by Alan McMurtry, however ‘keeper Byrne was well positioned to save.

In the 24^th minute Armagh doubled their lead. They were able to get into the box rather too easily from where the ball was lofted across to Mullen. His looping header towards the back post eluded Lewis Deane and fell to Doona who had the easy task of tapping in from close range.

The home defence looked very brittle, and they conceded another chance on 29 minutes as Teggart got a shot in from 16 yards which went just wide of the target. A minute later the home side had a great chance to pull a goal back. Brandon Doyle nipped in to intercept a short back pass and round the ‘keeper, but his resulting shot struck the near post.

There was much room for improvement for Comrades as they emerged after the break. However, there was little sign of comeback being on the cards. In fact, the visitors looked more likely to add to their lead. On 51 minutes they had a chance when a cross played into the box found Mullen unmarked, but his resulting header was kept out by Lewis Deane who was able to gather comfortably.

Comrades flattered to deceive in their attempts to mount a threat and the Armagh ‘keeper was largely a bystander during the second half. Meanwhile the hosts still looked very vulnerable at the back. In the 65^thminute they had to rely on a good save from Lewis Deane as he turned the ball wide after Mullen had broken through the centre of the home defence.

Deane was again called into action on 72 minutes when Rutkowski bamboozled the Comrades backline to get in a shot from inside the box, but the Comrades ‘keeper did well to get down to make a great save, with the ball then being scrambled clear.

Armagh did then get a merited third goal in the 76th minute. Doona got in far too easily between the Comrades centre-backs, as they failed to deal with a high ball, and he was then able to slot the ball calmly past the exposed ‘keeper.

Many thanks to the match sponsor for this game, Sleator Plant, and to the ball sponsor SoccerSixes.net.