A Christmas to remember

A Christmas to remember

20 December 2023

COMBER Rec are preparing for the most important Christmas in the club’s history as they aim for glory in two showpiece finals.

A Christmas Day cracker sees Comber square off against fellow Premier Division outfit Crumlin Star at 10.45am in Seaview to conclude the Steel and Sons competition, before the Rec line out a week later to contest the Border Cup final against Willowbank at the same venue on New Year’s Day. This fixture is set for a 2.30pm kick-off.

Despite the excitement both around the club and the town, manager Gareth McKeown is remaining fully focused on the task at hand.

“Comber itself is buzzing, but it’s just a matter of seeing how training goes,” he said.

“We have a couple of boys who have niggling injuries and we will have to the end of the week to make a decision on whether they can play.

“We know no matter what we will have a big support at both games – I witnessed older fans and stalwarts of the club crying at the final whistle of the Steel and Sons semi-final.”

That whistle was long awaited by the Comber outfit as their challengers, Greenisland, had pushed them all the way to extra-time.

In fact, it seemed as if Comber were dead and buried until the 85th minute when substitute Harry Grierson equalised before he cemented himself as the hero and struck the winner to prevent a dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Meanwhile, Crumlin Star were forced to settle things from the spot in their semi-final encounter as they overcame Derriaghy in a nail-biting contest.

Both Comber and Crumlin have played a notable lack of league games, with four and six matches respectively, but they have faced one another already this year in the Border Cup semi-final, with the Rec claiming a 2-0 win last month.

“We can take a bit of confidence in knowing that we can beat them having done so already,” reflected McKeown.

“Crumlin are a good side and we have been monitoring them, including what their team selections have been and what results they are getting.

“I am confident we have the players within our ranks to get the win, we just have to replicate the work rate we showed when we faced them previously.”

Comber will look to the likes of goalkeeper Corey Pollock, who has made considerable progression between the posts throughout the year whilst working with goalkeeping coach Darren Bell.

Midfielder Kristopher Gaw will be required to do the gritty groundwork, breaking up play and dispatching further afield to launch attacks.

He will be well buoyed by skipper Simon Hanna, whose laser precision passes have proved a real asset in the competition.

Up front, Elliot Wilson is almost certain to cause problems in the air and his brother Dylan is not to be overlooked either.

Number nine Brett Conville netted both goals against Crumlin last time out but McKeown did admit he has been “off the boil” as of late.

However, the Comber manager also stated Conville is a player who “can go quiet for 70 minutes but pop up with two goals in two minutes”.

Comber suffered their first league defeat at the weekend – a 1-0 loss to leaders East Belfast – although McKeown put this result down to his players perhaps having one eye on the cup finals.

“It’s understandable to a degree but it’s not ideal entering a final off the back of a loss,” said McKeown.

“But I think the lads will be a lot more composed now once they get this week out of the way. I think it’s the anticipation which is more of a killer compared to playing the actual final.

“Once they are there, they will be more than ready.”

No matter what happens on Christmas Day, Comber know they will have a quick turnaround before they’re in action again to kick off the New Year.

Division 1B outfit Willowbank stand in their way of what, at that point, could potentially be a famous cup double but McKeown is not allowing for complacency.

“We know Willowbank are a very good team and in truth are better than their league ranking suggests,” he said.

“Similar to what we have been doing with Crumlin, we have also been keeping an eye on Willowbank. 

“They were 3-0 up against Greenisland at the weekend, a team that pushed us to extra-time.” 

What is no doubt a comfort for Comber is the depth in their squad, with almost every position on the pitch covered by two players.

Therefore, if any situations arise within his squad during the first final, McKeown has a quality pool of reserves to dip into.

“We have two very good teams and I am more than confident that we can call upon top players to do a job if needed,” remarked McKeown.

“Despite having played so little games in the league so far, we have already competed in 20 matches this season. 

“Out of those we have won 18 and squad rotation was a big part of that, so there’s no doubt we will be up to the challenge for the New Year.”