East Antrim Youth League Comber Rec 9 : 2 Connor
Valley Park
Saturday 29th November 2007
The first meeting of these two teams this season saw a game largely memorable for the atrocious weather rather than for the match itself. The first whistle saw the start of driving rain to match the gale force wind which was already sweeping across Valley Park. Comber, as has been the case in many matches this season, gifted Connor a goal early in the game and provided their opponents with a much needed lift. Although back quickly on equal terms, Comber managed to allow Connor to then take the lead for a second time. A dubious penalty in Comber’s favour brought things level again and from this point on Comber took control of the half and indeed the match. By half time Comber were 5.2 in the lead, had the match effectively in the bag and were thankfully able to make three substitutions as a number of boys (and coaches and spectators) were suffering from the conditions and pleading to get off the pitch!
The second half saw Comber add four more goals to their tally and even saw keeper Hackett, who deserves special mention for surviving for an hour in nets, finish the game playing centre forward. Nathan Clifford took over between the posts and at one point pulled off a fine stop.
One other point worthy of mention in the match was an outstanding goal from Simon Hanna. Picking up the ball in his own box he evaded two tackles before running into the other half of the pitch where he played a neat one:two with Clifford before beating a further two men and slotting low into the net past what was a useful Connor keeper. A real contender for goal of the season!
Other goals in the game came from Hanna (x2), Clifford (x2), Halliday (x2), Milligan and Wilson
MOM Simon Hanna (kinda for the hat-trick but mostly for THE goal!)
