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.

After their run of victories ended at Clandeboye Road against Bangor in their previous match, Comrades returned to winning ways against Ards at the same venue.

The hosts started strongly. Inside two minutes they had a great chance to take the lead when Newell latched onto a short back pass, but Gerard Walker was alert, advancing from his line to make a vital block as the striker shot. Two minutes later the same player was denied again when he got on the end of a dangerous ball played into the box by Scannell, but this time Owen McConville was able to get in the way of Newell’s goal bound effort on the line and Comrades managed to scramble it clear.

With their first real attack in the eight minute the visitors then hit the front against the run of play. The goal was very well worked, with Brian Healy sliding a superb pass across to Michael Morgan which provided him with the opportunity to step past an opponent and curl a low shot past the ‘keeper and inside the far post from the edge of the area.

On 11 minutes a buoyant Comrades threatened a second goal. The dynamic Liam Hassin won the ball deep in Ards territory and then a played one two with Michael Morgan which allowed his to advance into the box, but stretching to get a shot away he found the side-netting. A minute later Ards had a good opportunity to get a quick equaliser. Newell got on the end of a cross played into the box, but from a great position he headed over the bar.

In the 17^th minute the visitors stunned their opponents with a second goal. Good pressing saw the ball turned over in the Ards half from where it was played to Marcus Murphy inside the box. He then had the composure to square the ball across the goal to where Brian Healy was waiting to fire home from five yards out.

Ten minutes later the hosts reduced the deficit. Comrades conceded a free kick just outside the box as Newell surged up the right and was brought down by Lee McCune. Maxwell stepped up to take the set-piece and drove the ball hard and low on goal. Gerard Walker was able to block the effort, but the ball rebounded out kindly to Steele who slotted it in from close range.

Ards now pressed for a leveller. They had a good chance in the 38^th minute when a corner played to the back post found the head of Hunter, but he hit the side-netting.

A minute passed and Stephen Small’s men restored a two-goal advantage. Liam Hassin again won the ball in a dangerous area and surged into the box before playing it low across the six-yard box where Healy was once more the man on the spot to finish from close range.

Three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half Comrades were grateful to their ‘keeper for preserving their two-goal lead. Maxwell struck a superb free kick from 25 yards which looked bound for the top corner, but Gerard Walker produced a top class save to turn the ball over.

The start of the second half saw Ards press strongly, with Comrades having to defend resolutely including against a series of corners. A combination of good defending from the visitors and poor decision making by the home side meant that the score stayed the same.

Gradually then Comrades began to be able to venture forward again. On 67 minutes Brian Healy, with no other options available to him, tried a trademark spectacular long-range effort from the centre-circle, but this time the ball went just over the bar with the ‘keeper struggling.

Then, in the 69^th minute, the visitors really should have put the result beyond doubt. A quick break forward saw substitute Caolán Donnelly outstrip the home defence and get into the box, where instead of shooting he chose to pass the ball across the box to Brian Healy who was completely unmarked. However, the hat-trick seeking striker took his eye off the ball and allowed it to slip under his foot and the chance was gone.

On 72 minutes Ards came close to getting a goal back. A corner was met by the head of McCart and his effort deflected off a defender and onto the bar.

Comrades had another chance to seal the result in the 78^th minute when a lovely flick from Michael Morgan set Brian Healy free of the Ards defence, but ‘keeper Matthews was able to block his resulting effort at the near post.

Ards fluffed a chance to make it a nervous finish to the game for Comrades when they spurned a big chance on 87 minutes. A free kick was launched into the box, finding Maxwell free five yards from goal, but he blasted his first-time shot over the bar.

This was the last threat from the home side and Comrades were able to see out the remaining minutes sedately to secure the three points.