Saturday 24th July 2010 - Pre-season Friendly

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Keith Armstrong, 14.Kevin O'Hare, 15.Mark Hadden, 16.Steve Bainbridge, 17.Phil Logue, 18.Matt Boyd

Comrades substitutions

Stuart McCullough (45')

Mark Hadden (45')

Scott Irvine (59')

Keith Armstrong (59')

Darren Munster (64')

Phil Logue (64')

Eddie Hill (70')

Steve Bainbridge (70')

Stevie McDowell (70')

Matt Boyd (70')

Simon McGowan (75')

Kevin O'Hare (75')

Goals

Scott Irvine (15')

Adrian Harper (30')

Mark Miskimmin (65') pen

Mark Hadden (79')

Comrades continued their pre-season build up with an encouraging performance in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Premiership side Glenavon at Dixon Park

Despite the absence of captain Andy Forsythe and top striker Mark McClelland, Gordon Chambers still fielded a strong side, which included trialist Eddie Adams, formerly of Carrick Rangers and Larne.

The game began with both sides looking to attack from the off. The visitors, fresh from a mid-week 6-0 hammering of Carrick Rangers, looked lively, but Comrades also showed plenty of enterprise going forward.

The opening goal of the game however, came somewhat out of the blue, when a free-kick from the left touch-line, 40 yards from goal was floated into the box by Scott Irvine. Glenavon keeper Plummer completely misjudged the flight of the ball and could only touch it into the roof of his net.

Glenavon stepped up the pace in an attempt to get back on terms, but were finding Comrades’ defence a hard nut to crack, until the 30th minute when a sweetly hit low strike from 16 yards by Harper beat Paddy Flood just inside the post.

Comrades continued to give as good as they got for the remainder of the half. On 40 minutes, Stevie McDowell did well to make space for a curling shot from 20 yards, but Plummer was well positioned to save.

The pace of the game was maintained in a second half marked by a couple of controversial decisions from referee Hayes. Firstly, on the hour, Eddie Hill was played through and lobbed the ball over the out-rushing keeper just inside the box. Plummer then collided with the Comrades striker, preventing him from getting to the ball and an almost certain goal. However, to the outrage of the home fans, the referee gave a foul to the visitors.

Five minutes later, the Comrades’ fans were even angrier with the referee when he awarded a very soft penalty, when what looked a perfectly timed tackle by Phil Logue on Miskimmin, introduced as a substitute seconds earlier, was adjudged a foul. Miskimmin stepped up to accept the gift by converting the resulting penalty.

Unsurprisingly, the rash of second half substitutions from both sides did rather break up the flow of the game, but there was still to be an interesting finish.

On 79 minutes Comrades grabbed a deserved equaliser, again from a goalkeeping error. Mark Hadden powered down the right and with little up in the way of support, hit a speculative effort from a difficult angle near the wing. His low shot was accurate, but even so, Plummer should have done better, failing to stop the ball going into the net at his near post.

Both sides had a good chance each to win the game near the end. Firstly, on 87 minutes, Glenavon almost struck when King was played through with only the keeper to beat, but Paddy Flood spread himself well to produce an excellent block.

A minute into injury-time, and with virtually the last kick of the game, Comrades probably should have won the game. Ronnie Burns did well to hold the ball near the right corner flag, before playing it to Matt Boyd. Boyd then squared to Steve Bainbridge in a great position near the penalty spot, but his first-time shot flew over the bar.

The final whistle was greeted with cheers from the home fans, delighted by a good performance against strong opponents.