Match Photos: Graeme Bolton Photography

Tuesday 11th August 2009 - Paddy Power County Antrim Shield (Round One)

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Mark Drysdale, 14.Tony Liken, 15.Andy Simms, 16.Keith Armstrong, Gk.Michael McCloskey

Donegal Celtic: Brown, Heagney, Lambe, McClean, Watson, McAlorum, Cleary, Bradley, O'Neill, McAllisterm Gargan - Subs: Duff, Glenholmes, Lavery, Shannon, McCann

Comrades substitutions

Kyle Agnew (82')

Keith Armstrong (82')

Darren Munster (88')

Andy Simms (88')

Goals

Donegal Celtic - Liam Watson (33')

Ballyclare Comrades - Ricky Moore (43')

Donegal Celtic - Liam Watson (90+3')

Comrades cards

Gareth Curlett (33')

Stuart Galbraith (74')

Ricky Moore (76')

Comrades man of the match

Ricky Moore

After a disappointing defeat in the league opener on Saturday, Comrades fans may have been looking forward to this County Antrim Shield tie against Championship favourites Donegal Celtic with some trepidation. However, those fans who made the journey to West Belfast were treated to a fine, spirited display from their side, who undeservedly lost to a goal deep into injury-time.

For this match Gordon Chambers made changes, some enforced and some tactical. With Mark McClelland injured, and Anto Crawford on holiday, striking options were limited, but in any case the team lined up in a 4-5-1 formation in which Ricky Moore was the lone striker. Sam McWilliams came in at right-back, with Andy Long moving to the centre of defence. In midfield Stuart Galbraith came into the stating line-up, with Kyle Agnew and Darren Munster into the side on the flanks.

The first quarter of the game saw few efforts on goal, with Comrades more than holding their own against their fancied opponents. This early period may have raised the confidence of the Comrades players, because as the half progressed they began to feature more and more in attacking areas. 

On 24 minutes a corner was only cleared as far as Simon McGowan, who sent a deep ball back into the far post area where it was met by an Andy Long header. The impressive Comrades centre-back might have been disappointed to see his effort from 7 yards go wide of the base of the post, but in any case the linesman had flagged for a rather dubious offside.

Five minutes later Comrades came very close to taking the lead. The hard working Ricky Moore won a free-kick 25 yards out towards the right and David Officer then stepped up to strike a superb powerful shot which looked destined for the top corner until Brown tipped over by a great Brown save.

Comrades had been looking increasingly comfortable, but they were stunned in the 33rd minute by a very fortunate goal for the home side. Watson picked the ball up at the edge of the box and struck a shot, which took a massive deflection and went into the net, despite a brave effort by Allen Huxley to get to it.

Encouragingly this set-back did not deter Comrades and they continued to play as they had been before the goal. On 35 minutes a cross from the left found the head of Any Long, whose effort from 10 yards went over the bar. Then, two minutes later, a ball slid through the DC defence by Stuart Galbraith was connected with by the outstretched leg of Ricky Moore, who just couldn’t get enough on it to send it over the goal line from 12 yards out.

Comrades continued to win headers in the DC box and on 42 minutes a deep Andy Long free-kick found Gareth Curlett, but his header under pressure sailed over the bar from 9 yards out.

Two minutes from the break Comrades got a much deserved equaliser. Kyle Agnew slid a fine ball down the right sending Ricky Moore clear of the home defence and he produced a fine stylish finish, sliding the ball past the advancing keeper from 15 yards.

The home side started the second half showing significantly more threat than they had in the first, but Comrades still looked confident and poised.

On 48 minutes a ball was chipped into the Comrades box and found Bradley free 6 yards out in what looked to be an offside position. However, Allen Huxley reacted quickly to block his effort. Then, five minutes later, Bradley again found himself in a good position, this time with a header from a right-wing cross, but his effort from 5 yards went wide of the target.

Comrades’ attacks were more limited in number than they had been in the first half, but they still attempted to play constructive football. On 58 minutes a deep cross from the right by Sam McWilliams found Ricky Moore, but under pressure his header from 8 yards went low past the post.

Comrades had a let –off in the 63rd minute when a cross from Heagney found O’Neill 5 yards out in the back post area, but his effort was sent harmlessly into the arms of Allen Huxley.

The home side’s attacking impetus looked to have blown itself out, when Comrades were dealt a shattering blow on 74 minutes. A flare up inside the DC half involving Bradley and Stuart Galbraith ended with the home player being booked and Galbraith being sent-off for raising his arm.

Now down to 10 men it was backs to the wall for Comrades. However, with hard work and organisation they managed to keep the home side from seriously threatening the goal until the very late stages of the match.

In the 88th minute a high ball into the Comrades box caused some confusion and the visitors were fortunate to see a close range effort from O’Neill deflect off Allen Huxley and go wide.

Comrades sorties up-field were now rare, but a minute into injury-time they had a half chance when a poor clearance fell to David Officer at the edge of the box, however, his well struck effort flew wide of the far post.

The game looked to be heading towards extra-time when DC launched a final effort to steal the win. Three minutes into injury-time a clearance from a corner fell to Duff and his effort from just outside the box looked destined for the goal but for a timely goal-line clearance by Sam McWilliams. However, from the resulting corner DC secured the win, with Watson getting his head to the ball and nodding in from 6 yards out.

Despite the disappointment of losing so late on there was much encouragement to be taken by Comrades from this match. They looked well organised and committed and every player looked to know what he should be doing and did it very well. The tactics were also spot-on, with the midfield getting up well to support the lone striker, particularly in the first period. If they can re-produce this form during the rest of the season, thing may well be looking up for Gordon Chambers’ side.