Match Photos: Graeme Bolton Photography

Match Highlights: Cameraman - Ryan Tweedie, Editor - Graeme Bolton

Saturday 5th September 2009 - Steel & Sons Cup (Third Round)

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Johnny Gowdy, 15.Andy Simms, 17.Ronnie Burns

FC Ballynure: Agnew, Bradley, Wray, Gault, Stevenson, A.Smyth, Tweedie, S.Smyth, McQuaid, K.Anderson, Hall - Subs: McIlroy, Martin, W.Anderson.

Comrades substitutions

Keith Armstrong (67')

Johnny Gowdy (67')

Darren Munster (67')

Andy Simms (67')

Willie Grattan (71')

Ronnie Burns (71')

Goals

Anto Crawford (17')

Willie Grattan (36')

Comrades cards

Andy Forsythe (73')

Kyle Agnew (81')

Comrades man of the match

Simon McGowan

Comrades advanced to the last 16 of the Steel & Sons Cup with a comfortable but uninspired victory over FC Ballynure, in a well attended local derby match at Parkview Hockey Club.

With a 2nd leg Co-operative Insurance Cup match against Carrick Rangers in 2 days time, Gordon Chambers chose to rest some of his key players, with key midfielder David Officer and strikers Ricky Moore and Mark McClelland sitting out this contest. Into the side for first competitive starts for the club came Anto Crawford and Willie Grattan in attack, whilst Keith Armstrong started in midfield.

The game kicked off with the strong wind blowing across the pitch favouring neither side, but making play difficult.

However, Comrades probably should have taken a very early lead, just into the 2nd minute, when a header on by Anto Crawford found Kyle Agnew free on the right side of the box, but despite having a bit of time to shoot, he found his shot blocked by his namesake in the home goal.

As expected Comrades were totally in control from the off and it appeared just a matter of time before they scored. Chances were being made, but spurned early on. On 10 minutes, a good cross from the left from Andy Forsythe found the head of Kyle Agnew unmarked in a great position 7 yards from goal, but he could only send his effort wide of the target. Then, three minutes later, a free-kick from the right whipped into the box by Darren Munster found Willie Grattan, but his glancing header from 8 yards went narrowly wide of the base of the post.

Comrades got a deserved opener in the 17th minute, when FC Ballynure failed to clear a corner and Andy Long had time to set up Anto Crawford for a strike from 9 yards which flew into the net low past the helpless keeper.

Comrades fans might have expected the flood gates to open after taking the lead, but this was not to be the case, as a combination of some sloppy passing from their side and dogged defending by the home team meant that the goal was followed by a spell with little goalmouth action, despite Comrades domination of attacking possession.

In the 34th minute Darren Munster found himself in space on the left side of the box, with the home defence caught out by a diagonal ball, however, his first time effort from 16 yards curled wide of the far post.

Two minutes later, Comrades did increase the lead, however. Anto Crawford did well down the left and crossed to the far post area, where Kyle Agnew knocked the ball back to Willie Grattan, who managed to slot the ball home at the second attempt from inside the 6-yard box, after an initial block defender Wray.

The odds now were on Comrades to go on and win the game at a canter, but although they were to emerge comfortable winners, they disappointingly failed to increase the winning margin in a rather turgid second half. 

The first 25 minutes of the second period were extremely uneventful as the game took on the aspect of a pre-season friendly. Comrades were again dominant in terms of possession, but lacked the spark to create chances against a well disciplined home defence. At the other end Allen Huxley was more or less untroubled, as the home side were limited to a few very speculative long range efforts, which came nowhere near the target.

The latter part of the half did liven up somewhat after the introduction of Comrades’ substitutes. On 70 minutes, the ball was lobbed back in after a corner had been cleared out of the home box. The home defence, pushing up to try to catch the Comrades strikers offside, miscalculated and it fell to Anto Crawford free on the edge of the box. However, he blazed the ball rather wastefully over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

On 74 minutes the home side had their closest effort on goal of the match when a good ball in from the left from Bradley found the head of Andy Smyth 8 yards out, but his header was glanced a couple of feet wide of the target.

Comrades wasted another chance a minute later when a ball from Simon McGowan set Kyle Agnew free, but his attempt to lob the keeper from 16 yards out went over the bar.

The visitors were unfortunate not to increase the lead in the 83rd minute. Andy Simms, cut a corner back to the edge of the box to Simon McGowan, who set himself up for a strike from 16 yards, which slammed off the underside of the bar and out to safety.

With the clock ticking down on the rather dull affair, the home side were hit by a sending-off, with Andy Smyth receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Comrades had time for a couple of more presentable chances, which they again spurned. On 88 minutes Kyle Agnew set Anto Crawford up for a shot from the edge of the box, which flew well over. Then, in the 90th minute, a good diagonal ball from Johnny Gowdy found fellow substitute Ronnie Burns, but he shot over from just inside the area.

This was not a game or a performance from Comrades which will live long in the memory. The win was really never in doubt, but Gordon Chambers’ men did just enough and no more to secure the result, perhaps with minds more on the task against Carrick on Monday night.