Darren’s brace hits Killyleagh

Darren’s brace hits Killyleagh

22 March 2017

COMBER had to work overtime to get the better of a game Killyleagh side in a spicy derby offering at Park Way on Saturday.

Three priceless points keep Comber in contention for the 1A title, but they struggled at times to compete with Killyleagh, who played the entire second half with only 10 men after the dismissal of Jamie Sharvin.

Comber rode their luck and had to rely on an inspired substitution at the start of the second half when Phil McDonagh and Gay McKibbin sent for Craig McCracken.

The former Linfield, Ards and Glenavon striker, who came up through the Rec’s youth ranks, is now in the twilight of his career. Nevertheless he gave Comber a cutting edge they lacked for the first 45 minutes and had a hand in all his side’s three goals.

The equation for Comber is now a simple one. Win all their remaining five games and they will be in with an outstanding chance of gaining promotion and even the divisional crown.

They are currently in third place, nine points behind leaders 1st Bangor — one of McCracken’s former clubs — and two behind second-placed Larne Tech Old Boys, but have three games in hand over both.

East Belfast are also in the mix, as are Newcastle. East are four points behind Comber, but have two games in hand and the title is theirs to lose.

Newcastle would have had a chance to win the league, but too many draws have left them slightly off the pace going into the run-in.

Killyleagh are not out go the relegation woods just yet. They are third from bottom with three games left to play and are four points clear of Kilmore — both have played the same number of games — with Dundonald already relegated.

Kilmore’s remaining games are against Comber Rec, Larne Tech and East Belfast, who are all involved in the hunt for silverware, while Killyleagh face East Belfast twice and Islandmagee.

It is difficult to see Kilmore taking anything from their games which will ensure Killyleagh remain in Division 1A.

Saturday’s clash took a while to get to the boil, but once it did there was a fierce amount of steam let off.

Peter Russell almost found the back of the net after only two minutes, but hit the side netting after a benevolent Comber defence failed to halt his run into the box.

Two minutes later at the opposite end Richard McClean saw his stinging free kick skim the crossbar and fly to safety, but if anything, it was Killyleagh who looked the more composed and threatening in the first quarter.   

Stevie Kennedy forced James Darlington into a smart save after 13 minutes, but that was as good as it got for a while as the game developed into a dour midfield battle that finally boiled over in the 34th minute when Jamie Sharvin picked up a second yellow for a challenge on McClean.

Undeterred, Killyleagh deservedly made the breakthrough five minutes later with a delightful passage of play. 

Kennedy and Darren McConnell cut Comber wide open with a series of passes and Robbie Hagen did the rest with an assured finish from inside the box.

Comber had a different look about them after the break with McCracken operating in behind Colin Manley and Jordan Dougherty and he immediately started dragging markers all over the place with his unselfish running.

Jason Walls wasn’t too far away with a shot from outside the box after a patient build-up in the 48th minute and four minutes later Darren McNamee drilled the equaliser home with Killyleagh appealing for an offside whistle that didn’t come.

Manley and Dougherty wasted chances before Walls found his range with a screamer from the edge of the box after McCracken had pulled the Killyleagh cover all over the place.

Comber looked to finish Killyleagh off, but Dale Davidson’s side refused to buckle with McConnell and John Joe Sharvin fighting to the bitter end.

Alas, their industry and pluck came to nothing when McNamee fired in Comber’s insurance goal with five minutes remaining.

A bad day for Killyleagh got even worse when John Joe Sharvin picked up a bad injury in the dying stages and had to be carried off.

Comber Rec: J Darlington, M O’Gorman, R McClean, A Whitehead, D McNamee, J Walls, S Murray, E Knipe, C Manley, J Dougherty, A McGrattan. Subs: S Hanna, C McCracken, C Gillen.

Killyleagh YC: A Carberry, P Strain, J Murray, G Murray, D Heaney, John Joe Sharvin, R Hagen, D McConnell, S Kennedy, J Sharvin, P Russell. Subs: J Forbes, R Straney, B Strain.

Comber Rec 3

Killyleagh YC 1

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1A