An action packed first half display gave Comrades victory over Banbridge Town at Dixon Park.
There was a blistering start from the hosts, and they were two up inside six minutes. In the fifth minute a high ball played forward to the edge of the area by Dylan O’Kane saw Lewis Mearns get his head to it before the advancing keeper and his effort went into the empty net.
A minute later Mearns was the provider as he pulled the ball back from the byline to the edge of the six-yard box where Daniel Gordon got ahead of a defender to provide the finish.
Comrades looked more than capable of adding further goals as the tortured the Banbridge defence with their sharp attacking play. In the 15th minute they came close when a good interchange between Stuart Hutchinson and Daniel Gordon allowed Gordon a chance to shoot from inside the box, but his effort under a challenge went just wide.
A minute passed and another chance came. Daniel Gordon was again the man with the opportunity as Barry McKervey got to the byline and played the ball across towards him, but the young striker couldn’t get the right connection inside the six-yard box.
Sloppiness at the back from the hosts allowed Banbridge a chance on 20 minutes, with Victor Ihemeje only being denied by a great reaction save from Lewis Deane as he shot first-time in front of goal.
Comrades then conceded a goal in the 27th minute when Ihemeje was left unmarked to send a looping header into the net.
Two minutes later the home side regained a two-goal advantage as Ryan McMenemy intercepted a loose pass at the edge of the area and sent a clinical shot past the keeper.
Comrades still looked uncertain at the back and gifted another chance to the visitors on 42 minutes, as McLoughlin ghosted into to get to the ball before the outrushing keeper, but his first-time effort went just wide of the target from the edge of the area.
In the 44th minute Comrades made it 4-1. Ryan McMenemy surged into the box before squaring the ball to Daniel Gordon who slotted home from seven yards.
After the all-action first half, the second half was a lot quieter, although Comrades came close to another goal on 54 minutes when Ryan McMenemy headed the ball down for Lewis Mearns to volley just over from the edge of the box.
The visitors came close to pulling a goal back in the 63rd minute, with Borges sliding in to get to the ball from a corner. His effort looped up to come back of the bar.
The game drifted to its conclusion with little further goalmouth action and the hosts secured the three points.
Many thanks to match sponsor, Ballyclare Comrades Boys Academy and to ball sponsor, Ballyclare Glass and Glazing.
