Author: Paul Jenkins

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.

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.