Author: Paul Jenkins

With the news of Stephen Small’s resignation being digested by Comrades supporters, they still travelled in decent numbers to see their team take on Welders at Blanchflower Stadium. However, there was to be no winning farewell for the manager as his team fell to defeat.

The visitors started with good energy, but as the first half progressed it was the hosts who had more of the attacking play. However, Comrades were able to limit their chances, with Gerard Walker not called into serious action until the 24^th minute when he had to make a scrambling save to keep put an O’Connor effort from the edge of the edge of the area which looked to be sneaking just inside the post.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark. A high ball was latched onto by McCoubrey who got to it before Ronan McAleer and darted into the box before smashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. The home side then pushed for a second goal. In the 35^th minute Gerard Walker had to make get across his line to push out a free kick struck by O’Connor from 25 yards out. Then, three minutes later, ended with an O’Connor shot from 18 yards which forced Walker to make a smart save.

Comrades had struggled to create much of a threat until the 44^th minute when a cross-field ball played by Darius Roohi found Brian Healy on the left and he cut inside and opponent before striking a curling effort from 16 yard which went narrowly over the bar.

The second half saw Welders continue to control the game and look more likely to score the next goal. On 55 minutes Oran O’Kane burst through two challenges inside the box before firing just wide of the far post. Then, two minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead when O’Connor and Kee produced a devastating one-two before O’Connor struck a confident finish from 10 yards. Welders looked capable of adding to their advantage. In the 60^th minute Gerard Walker had to make a good block to deny a McMullan shot from inside the area. Walker was then called into action again on 63 minutes when he made a smart save to keep out an effort from Kee.

The busy Comrades ‘keeper then made a superb reaction save to prevent a powerful Patterson header from entering the net from a corner. The life of a ‘keeper was typified in the 79^th minute when Gerard Walker, who had until that time been excellent, was caught on the ball inside the box, with O’Connor taking advantage to finish into the unguarded net.

Comrades managed to get a consolation goal on 86 minutes. Darius Roohi headed the ball into the path of Brian Healy who ran forward, outstripping the home defence before slotting the ball past the advancing ‘keeper.

Welders had a chance to restore a three-goal lead on 89 minutes when Doyle received the ball in a great position inside the box from a McCoubrey cross, but he scuffed his effort wide.

The visitors came close to pulling another goal back in the 90^th minute. Cillin Gilmour won possession in Welders territory and drove forward before playing the ball into the box where it arrived at Darius Roohi. The striker hit an effort through a crowd, but saw the ball strike the post.

Comrades had to be content with a point against Newington in front of a good Boxing Day crowd at Dixon Park.

After an even start to the game, Comrades had the first chance on 14 minutes when Michael Morgan robbed an opponent just inside the box and fired a shot just wide.

Three minutes later, the hosts opened the scoring. A great flick on by Lee McGreevy opened the Newington defence and set Michael Morgan free into the box from where he slotted the ball past the advancing ‘keeper and into the net. In the 22^nd minute Comrades came close to a second goal, when Brian Healy was tackled as he ran across the edge of the box and the ball broke to Michael Morgan, but he was denied by a good block from ‘keeper Smyth.

As the first half progressed the visitors became increasingly threatening, exposing Comrades with attacks up the left flank in particular. On 32 minutes they had a terrific opportunity to equalise as a ball fed into the box found Stuart free. However, he was denied by a superb save by Gerard Walker. Stuart then got his head to a corner in the 35^th minute, with his effort looping onto the top of the bar.

The hosts steadied themselves in the closing minutes of the half but went in at the break with issues to address.

Three minutes after the restart the visitors had a massive chance to level the scores. A mix up in the Comrades defence allowed Downey in, but with only the ‘keeper to beat he dragged his shot wide of the target. Newington continued to threaten. On 59 minutes Gerard Walker had to be alert to make a smart save from a Storey free kick struck from 20 yards out.

The hosts strove to add to their lead. In the 63^rd minute Liam Hassin did well up the left before releasing Ronan McAleer to run into the box from where he pulled the ball back to Brian Healy in a good position. However, his effort was blocked by a defender. Healy then had an effort on goal on 69 minutes when the ball broke to him after good work by Michael Morgan, however, his low shot from the edge of the box was gathered inside the post by Smyth.

The visitors remained a growing threat and on 77 minutes they got a deserved leveller. A ball played in from the right was met by a first-time effort from O’Boyle which flew into the net, giving Walker no chance.

With 10 minutes of normal time to go tensions boiled over with a melee in front of the Comrades dugout involving numerous players and coaching staff from both sides. The outcome was red cards for Comrades assistant manager Chris Ramsey and goalkeeping coach Gerard McVeigh, as well as the Newington assistant manager.

After this neither side was able to build any real momentum. The only real threat came in the 84^th minute when Darius Roohi and Michael Morgan linked up with a swift raid forward, but Roohi was denied by Smyth who was quickly off his line to make a block.

The final whistle brought a point for both sides and thankfully the raised tensions late in the game were not reflected in the post-match scenes.

Many thanks to the match sponsor for the game, Big Stand Loyal, and to the ball sponsor, Trade Bathrooms NI.