League
Templepatrick 0 : 11 Comber Rec
Valley Park
Saturday 22nd September 2007
Comber got last week’s opening defeat
out of the system with an emphatic win over
Templepatrick. Right from the off Comber looked
the stronger side and could have scored at least
once prior to their opener in the 8th minute
which saw Dylan Wilson make a run down the right
and fire in a dangerous cross which beat the
on rushing forwards. The ball was picked up
on the far edge of the box by Magee who turned
it back into the path of Hanna, who tucked it
past the home keeper for Comber’s first
goal of the season. Six minutes later Comber
got their second when a break by Halliday saw
him play a neat through ball to Clifford who
made no mistake and slotted coolly home. At
this point it seemed that the flood gates may
open and this was confirmed when, one minute
later, Halliday followed up a long range shot
and finished left footed when the ball was spilled
by the home keeper. The 22nd minute saw Comber
go further into the lead through an unfortunate
own goal when the Templepatrick centre half
turned a Wilson cross past his own keeper. Clifford
then had a chance to make it five from the penalty
spot but shot high and wide. Comber got goals
five and six prior to half time – the
first a long range shot (or was it a cross?)
from Scott Gabbey which looped over the keeper
and the second an excellent header from Phil
Stewart from a Hanna corner.
With the game effectively over at half time
Comber were asked to focus on keeping a clean
sheet in the second half while trying to play
some neat football. Some two minutes after the
start of the second period Comber went further
ahead through a long range McVicker shot which
the keeper somehow managed to spill over the
line. Clifford followed up a long range shot
six minutes later to get his second of the game
and within two more minutes completed his hat
trick with a looping shot (was it a shot???)
after more good work by Halliday. Comber scored
twice more in the remaining 20 minutes –
the first of these from the penalty spot through
Hanna and the second from Phil Stewart after
a scramble in the home penalty area.
In summary a very comfortable win in which all
involved played an important role. At times
the football was very pleasing with Comber making
good use of their speed down the flanks. In
addition a clean sheet at this level of football
is highly commendable. Hopefully this victory
can provide a platform for the boys to build
on in future games.
