Category: Match Report

Comrades came away from the short trip to Inver Park with nothing after being comprehensively outplayed by Newington.

Right from the kick -off the hosts looked much sharper than their out of sorts opponents. Inside two minutes they came close when a corner was only cleared out to Storey who shot from the edge of the box, clipping the post. In the sixth minute Gerard Walker had to turn the ball behind to keep out a shot struck by Reid from just outside the area. Newington deservedly took the lead on 12 minutes when Storey stepped up to blast straight in past the wall from 22 yards out. Three minutes later the home side doubled their lead. A shot fired in from outside the box took a deflection which made it difficult for Gerard Walker to gather. The ball consequently spilled out of his grasp and Curran was there to finish from close range.

Comrades first threat of the game came in the 18th minute. Michael Mervyn got forward on the right and played the ball into the box to Brian Healy in a dangerous position. He attempted a first-time effort, but it was tame allowing ‘keeper Brown to save comfortably. The visitors came more into the game around the middle of the half but couldn’t find a good final ball. Newington maintained a significant threat and on 35 minutes a defensive mix-up near the halfway line allowed Stuart to run free into the box where he shot across the ‘keeper but saw his effort hit the far post.

Comrades had been very poor in the first half and things didn’t improve significantly after the break. They did threaten on 55 minutes when Brian Healy sent a looping header onto the top of the bar, although the ‘keeper appeared to have it covered. On the hour Comrades faced another Storey free kick, this time he sent a fierce shot in from 35 yards which Gerard Walker had to turn past the post. The hosts remained the much the more dangerous side. In the 64th minute the dangerous Tugman got past the Comrades defence up the right and played a great low ball into the box towards Stuart, but the striker fluffed his chance in front of goal from 8 yards, scuffing it wide of the post.

The visitors showed very little sign of making a comeback. However, they did create a chance in the 81st minute when the ball was played to Lee McGreevy in space just inside the box, but his shot was sliced well wide of the target. A minute later Newington threatened a third goal when they cut through the Comrades defence providing an opportunity for Gowdy inside the area, but his goal-bound effort was blocked in front of the line by Owen McConville. Five minutes into added time Newington came close to adding to their lead when Storey struck the bar with a shot from 16 yards.

Comrades were lucky to end the game only two goals behind, as no-one could have argued with a much heavier defeat after a very under power performance.

Second half strikes from Michael Morgan and Conor Quinn gave us our first win of the season after a testing week.

On a day where the weather couldn’t make up its mind if it was summer or winter, the game started at a good pace, with both teams trying to get on the front foot. Annagh United managed to get the early lead after a cross field ball found Teggart free on the left hand side of the box, and he fired past Walker after 10 minutes. After this we weathered the storm, both literally and on the pitch, as Annagh continued to press forward looking for second. As the half progressed, we had a number of half chances, with Brian Healy shooting from distance testing their keeper, and Bryce Gray coming close. Half time score 1-0 to Annagh.

The second half was barely going before Michael Morgan picked up the ball just inside the Annagh half, and drove at the defence, before unleashing a shot that came off the underside of the bar and nestled in far corner of the net. It was the tonic that the Comrades needed, and we started to take control of the battles all over the pitch. In what was a very entertaining second half, neither team were settling for the draw, and on 60 minutes Morgan went on another run beating 3 men on the edge of the Annagh box before having the ball nicked away just as he was about to strike. We continued to press forward with Healy going close. Caolán Donnelly returned from injury replacing Michael Mervyn and Conor Quinn came on for Bryce Gray as we went to 4 at the back. It proved to be the match winning decision, with Quinn picking up the ball on 80 mins and firing it low past Craughwell to turn the game around, scoring his first goal for the club after his summer move.

Annagh threw everything at us, but the defence stood strong, and young Jack Johnston came on for his senior competitive debut in place of Morgan to give us fresh legs in front of the back 4. A late penalty shout for Annagh was rightly waved away, and the final whistle blew signalling our first win of the season, in front of the cheering Dixon Park crowd.

After a stormy week, on a day where the sun shone, and the rain drove hard, the Comrades weathered it all, and took a valuable 3 points.

Man of the Match: Michael Morgan

A big thank you to our match sponsor Fleming & Cuthbert Funeral Directors, and ball sponsor Country Diner Catering.