After going two down and playing most of the second half with 10 men, Comrades managed to salvage a point against Oxford Sunnyside at Dixon Park.

After an even open spell, Comrades were first to test the keeper when a great strike hit from 25 yards by Dylan O’Kane forced a good save from Hughes in the eighth minute.

The visitors then began to take control. On 19 minutes they took the lead. A penetrating pass opened the home defence and set Cochrane free in the box. His initial effort to lob the keeper was blocked by Lewis Deane, but the ball fell back to Cochrane who at the send attempt sent the ball over Deane and into the net.

Oxford continued to look the more dangerous side. In the 26th minute they came close when a shot on the turn from the edge of the area from Mullen went narrowly wide of the far post.

Soon the visitors doubled their lead on 29 minutes. Comrades failed to clear their lines, allowing McConnell to get to the byline and dig out a perfect cross to the far post where Salley headed powerfully home.

Comrades continued to struggle to compete with their opponents. They came close to conceding a third goal in the 38th minute when Mullen tried a chip over the keeper from the right side of the box, with the ball going just over the bar.

A minute later, out of the blue, Comrades grabbed a lifeline as they pulled a goal back. Liam Toman raced into space on the right and delivered a perfect low ball in from the edge of the area to Nathan Best who converted from six yards.

Oxford almost restored a two-goal advantage on 41 minutes when a ball delivered into the box found the head of Mullen who looped a header onto the top of the bar.

The hosts needed a major improvement in the second half and within nine minutes of the restart they levelled the scores. Stuart Hutchinson outmuscled an opponent at the edge of the area and laid the ball off to Lewis Mearns who made no mistake with a clinical strike wide of the keeper and inside the post.

Two minutes later the wind was taken from Comrades sails as they were reduced to ten men when Barry McKerveey was dismissed after picking a second yellow card.

For a period after this Oxford pressed Comrades back, but gradually the home side adapted to their numerical disadvantage, defending well and starting to pose a threat at the other end. They managed to restrict the visitors in terms of chances. The only moment of real danger came in the 78th minute when McConnell curled and effort against the bar after a short corner.

When the full-time whistle came, Comrades had secured a hard-earned point, with a dogged and committed second half performance.

Many thanks to our Match Sponsor, Studio 51 Hair and Beauty, and Ball Sponsor, Ballyclare Glass & Glazing.

Match Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/oo9pehp2drp3l9t58klj0/ANHjK_Hpq8ecqFIoEsjvr88?rlkey=5cv5cw7q8tune5u74tq0b8p09&e=1&st=f90s8sgt&dl=0