Comber in control

Comber in control

26 October 2016

NO real Halloween fireworks as Comber put a bonfire under Killyleagh’s ambition of a victory over their derby rivals.

Phil McDonagh’s side maintained their impressive run to eight games unbeaten, but they never needed to sparkle or shine in this Intermediate Cup first round encounter at The Showgrounds.

It was a derby in name only, lacking the passion and high energy battles that have often marked this meeting in the past.

Dale Davidson’s Killyleagh got off to a dream start when Jamie Sharvin played in Callum Dougan.

The teenager sent the Rec ‘keeper James Darlington the wrong way as he stroked the ball into the net.

Comber were struggling to cope with Sharvin’s thrusting runs from midfield and soon afterwards he raced through, but fired wide.

His opposite number eight, Jason Walls, started to have an influence alongside the impressive Jordan Dougherty and it was soon 1-1 as the lively Martin Jones finished off some neat approach play from Manus O’Gorman.

Both teams were missing players, many because under the new rules they were not registered in time, but Killyleagh’s loss of six regulars seemed to hit them hardest, particularly sweeper Niall Walsh, as their defence was very porous and open to some fine probing play from the Rec.

It was no surprise when it was soon 2-1 as Dougherty took full advantage of some poor defending to give Aaron Carberry no chance.

The YC regrouped and with Sharvin pulling the strings, supported by Darryl Heaney, they started to play some neat football with Stevie Kennedy and Dougan starting to get a supply.

But against the run of play, the visitors made it 3-1. Walls will claim the goal, but it took a heavy deflection off Gary Carberry before beating his brother Aaron in the YC net.

After the interval Killyleagh started brightly and in one attack, in the 52nd minute, Sharvin’s free hit the Comber wall before Heaney’s follow up was blocked by the solid Adam Whitehead. When it threatened to run to Jack Forbes, Andrew Scott cleared well for Comber.

Three minutes later Killyleagh were reduced to 10 men when Jamie Sharvin was given a second yellow after he reacted when fouled from behind by Walls.

The Comber midfielder picked up a yellow.

Without their talisman, it looked curtains for the YC, but remarkably they hauled themselves up again and within four minutes, just short of the hour mark, they had made it 3-2 with a stunning strike from Kennedy. 

Forbes and Dougan combined and when the ball was rolled across the 18 yard line to Kennedy he hammered it high into the net.

Ten-man Killyleagh continued to push and Forbes played a beautiful pass along the six yard line, but it lacked a finish.

Comber appeared to be playing within themselves, but twice Darren McNamee had chances from corner kicks to restore the two goal lead, the last of them in the 72nd minute the closest of the openings in an ending to a game that produced few real scoring chances.

In the second minute of added time Killyleagh’s day of misery was completed when John Joe Sharvin joined his brother in the sin bin.

He was shown a straight red by the referee after protesting too long and too loud when he thought he should have had a free kick.

However, the ref had allowed play to continue so Dougan could fire in a shot that forced a save from Darlington.

Killyleagh YC 2

Comber Rec 3

Intermediate Cup 1st Round