East Antrim Youth League
Barn United 4 : 4 Comber Rec
Woodburn, Carrick
Saturday 6th October 2007
Comber management and players were well aware
that the trip to Carrick wasn’t going
to see a repeat of the previous two games in
which Comber romped to victory. This was always
liable to be a much tighter affair and so it
turned out.
The first few minutes of the game were even
with both teams scrapping for possession and
neither creating any chances of significance.
If anything Comber looked slightly the sharper
however this counted for nothing when they fell
behind after five minutes. A corner from the
right was met unchallenged by the Barn centre
forward who made no mistake and put the home
team a goal in front. Comber struggled to recover
from the goal and looked in danger of conceding
every time Barn got a corner or free kick with
the tall centre forward causing most of the
problems for the Comber boys. Comber refused
to give up however and got themselves back into
the game after Halliday expertly finished off
after a Hanna through ball. Barn, with straight
victories in all games so far this season were
rocked and Comber tried to take advantage in
the remaining 18 minutes of the half. Comber
came close on a number of occasions the best
of which saw a Wilson shot hit the post and
rebound to safety.
The second half saw both teams continue to carve
out opportunities and Barn took advantage to
go 2.1 ahead after 8 minutes. The Comber boys
rallied immediately this time and were level
within 2 minutes when Hanna equalised. Comber
continued to play fast flowing football and
were certainly well in the game. A through ball
to Wilson was handled deliberately on the edge
of the box by the Barn full back. After a booking
Hanna stepped up to fire Comber 3.2 in front
with a shot high to the keeper’s right.
Comber were now well on top and on 22 minutes
went two goals into the lead when a clearing
header from Crooks found Hanna, who quickly
fed Halliday to finish for his second of the
game. Barn however did not look a beaten team
and continued to believe that they could get
something from the game. Their reward came when
the Barn forward chased what initially looked
like a lost cause and put enough pressure on
Stewart to cause an error which resulted in
a free run on goal and the deficit being cut
to a single goal. Unable to stem the resultant
Barn tide of attacks Comber found themselves
on the back foot and Barn manage to force an
equaliser. Hackett made a fine stop from the
first effort but was unfortunate when the ball
broke to the on-rushing Barn midfield and the
ball was forced past him for the equaliser.
So four each with 5 minutes to go and Barn clearly
with the momentum behind them. Comber however
showed admirable spirit and determination not
to loose and defended resolutely despite conceding
a number of corners from which Barn always threatened.
Indeed the last attack of the game came from
Comber and saw Milligan fire in a great shot
which was clearly heading for the back of the
net until somehow and still unbelievably the
Barn keeper managed to dive to his right and
push the ball round the post and to safety.
Overall an excellent match played in a good
spirit by both sides. Comber boys were disappointed
to loose a two goal lead with only 10 minutes
remaining but if they had been offered a draw
prior to the start of the match they surely
would have happily accepted
