Rec Edge Through in Five Goal Thriller

In a nailbiting cup match at Belfast’s Glen Road on Saturday, Comber Rec progressed to the fourth round of the Border Cup when they narrowly defeated a plucky Sport and Leisure side 3-2. Rec lost their way for a time after a very bright start, but rallied in the later stages to send their supporters home satisfied with the outcome and with some of the performance.
Comber were still without Neil Magowan and Gordon Leckey through injury, Gareth Larmour was out through work commitments, and Ross Hegan was suspended, but they managed to field a fairly regular eleven, although yet again very heavy demands were made of Craig McCracken up front on his own.
The opening quarter hour was dominated by Rec, with Sport outplayed in every area, and it seemed that the visitors were in for an easy ride.
With only 2 minutes played McCracken and Marty Robinson worked a slick passing move down the right side, and when Robinson cut inside his shot was wide by just a couple of yards.
It was Robinson again who threatened the home goal when he curled a 25 yarder just outside the post in the 5th minute. In response, Sport began to play a successful offside game that ended a number of Rec attacks.
Comber’s answer came in the 12th minute when they went ahead with a classic route-one goal. Ryan Johnston’s long clearance out of defence caught the Sport rearguard on the wrong foot and McCracken in a flash rifled the ball low and hard past Tierney to give Rec a deserved lead.
The pattern of a game can often be turned by one incident, and such was the case just 2 minutes after Rec had gone ahead. A Sport and Leisure side that really hadn’t been in the race were awarded a penalty when Rooney was brought down inside the area. Norney hammered the spot kick home in spite of a brave effort by John McIlveen. Suddenly the home team started to believe in themselves, and the one-sided period of the game was over.
Their cause was helped by a referee who seemed to want no tackles at all in the match, and a number of Rec players were blown up for perfectly good challenges.
Midway through the half McIlveen did very well to punch clear a menacing Rooney free kick right on top of him, and Rec stalwart Peter Kelly headed an O’Rourke header off the line following a corner as Sport increased the pressure, assisted on occasion by Rec defenders refusing to simply clear their lines.
Ten minutes from the break David Brotherston swung a fine ball across to the unmarked McCracken, but his first time volley was well off target, and then a superlative Robinson run won applause, even though his final shot lacked the power to trouble Tierney.
Rec’s injury woes continued just before the interval when Keith Dougherty, playing at his best, sustained ankle damage from a crude tackle and had to go off, not to return after the half time break. The first period ended with a measured McCracken centre that eluded Robinson by inches in front of goal.
Rec should have retaken the lead a few minutes into the second period. A superb McCracken run presented Kevin Monson with an open goal, but he hit the keeper from point blank range.
Sport were almost handed a goal minutes later when McIlveen’s throw to one of his defenders gave away possession and Munster drove a foot over the top.
McCracken was causing the home defence no end of trouble, and another controlled run and left foot shot was deflected for a corner, but Sport were equally dangerous in the swift break out from defence, and sub McDonnell flashed a ball over from the left that was not too far outside the back post.
Comber totally wasted a number of corners by taking them short and failing to get the ball over at all, and fans were left wondering why the deadly Jim McCloskey flag kicks of last season have been discontinued.
Chris Nicholl made a vital interception to deny the dangerous Munster, and then McIlveen brought off a great stop on the hour from Connolly, but the same sequence of play led to Sport taking the lead. The ball was returned from the left side to the near post, and Rooney cleverly back-headed it into the far corner of the net.
At this point of the game it was Sport who looked more aggressive, and Nicholl once again showed his worth when he scooped away a squirming ball at the base of the upright.
Sub Ian Spence had to go off with a groin strain, and Rec used up all their bench in bringing on Craig Bowers and Adam Welsh.
With half an hour of the second half played Rec, urged on to good effect by McCloskey, scored a fine equaliser. Tierney managed to parry a lovely McCloskey overhead kick, but when the ball broke to Robinson on the right side of the area he rocketed it back low past the keeper.
Two minutes later Rec went ahead with the goal that won the game. A smooth passing move put Brotherston in the clear, but Tierney did well to save with his legs. When a half clearance was made, McCloskey cleverly left it for Welsh, who hooked it sweetly into the net from the edge of the area.
Rec could have gone further ahead minutes later. Tierney came well out of goal for a through ball but Tim Ritchie clipped it past him towards the empty goal, but it ran agonisingly just wide and McCracken was unable to drag it back from the byeline.
Injury time brought a chance at either end. A quick throw-in allowed Kavanagh to fire a shot just wide, and then in the last minute McCracken did the same at the home end. A gripping match ended with Rec going through to meet Rosario in the next round.
This win is good for morale, and it’s pleasing to see Marty Robinson continuing his goal scoring exploits. The need now is for league success, and hopefully with some players available again soon valuable league points will be acquired.