Match Sponsor: Rossi's World of Food - Pam Pam Bistro, Main Street, Ballyclare

Ball Sponsor: Hagan's Caravans, Templepatrick Road, Ballyclare

Match Photos: Graeme Bolton Photography

Match Highlights: Graeme Bolton

Saturday 5th December 2009 - Ladbrokes.com Championship 1

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Sam McWilliams, 14.Darren Munster, 15.Johnny Gowdy, 16.Ricky Moore, 17.Keith Armstrong

Carrick Rangers: Shannon, M.Prenter, Harris, McNamee, Philson, P.Prenter, Rooney, Taggart, Bloomer, Craig, Hand. Subs: Glenholmes, Holland, Bowers, Ewart.

Comrades substitutions

Ricky Lecky (49')

Sam McWilliams (49')

Andy Simms (74')

Ricky Moore (74')

Goals

Mark Craig (47')

Mark McClelland (77')

Comrades cards

Ronnie Burns (52')

Ronnie Burns (53')

Simon McGowan (55')

Stuart Galbraith (90+2')

Comrades man of the match

Mark McClelland

Comrades could not record a victory against bogey team and local rivals Carrick Rangers, but a stirring comeback from a goal behind and down to ten men ensured that, of the two sets of fans in a decent sized crowd, it was the home ones went home the happier.

Gordon Chambers made only one change to the starting line-up for this match, with captain, Andy Forsythe, available again, returning and Sam McWilliams dropping to the bench.

Carrick started the brighter of the sides and created a couple of early chances. In the 5th minute a ball into the box from the right caused difficulties for the Comrades defence and the ball broke to McNamee 6 yards out. However, his resulting goal-bound effort was foiled by a great block by Scott Irvine.

Two minutes later another cross from the right found the head of Bloomer 11 yards from goal, but his effort went a few feet over the bar.

This early flourish from the visitors faded fairly quickly and the first half settled into a rather scrappy affair with neither side able to create much.

Comrades, whilst having settled into the game defensively, were unable to cause much threat at the other end. The closest they came was on 26 minutes when a Scott Irvine cross from the right by line looked about to fall to Andy Simms in the back post area, but keeper Shannon managed to tip the ball away from him at the last minute. The loose ball then found its way to Stuart Galbraith at the edge of the box, but his shot went a yard or so wide of the target.

A minute later, Comrades came close to conceding a freak goal. Shannon’s long punt up field bounced over the head of both Carrick striker Craig and Comrades keeper Allen Huxley who went to challenge for it and the ball ended up flying just wide of the post.

There was little action of note in the latter stages of the half and a rather disappointing 45 minutes ended scoreless.

It was not long before the deadlock was broken in the second period and it was the visitors who were to strike first. Hand was found in space on the right of the box. He shot on target, but his effort was superbly saved by Allen Huxley. The ball then rebounded out to Taggart, whose effort from 15 yards was again met by a great save by Huxley. However, the ball then fell very kindly to ex-Comrades striker Mark Craig, who fired the ball past the, this time helpless, keeper from 7 yards.

Things got worse for Comrades when on 53 minutes the side was reduced to ten men after Ronnie Burns was shown a straight red card for an alleged elbow in a challenge with a Carrick player.

However, Comrades went on to play much better with ten men than they had with the full compliment, stepping up their performance to match the difficult circumstances.

Inevitably Carrick did create a few chances, but Comrades defence coped admirably on the whole. On 62 minutes a cross from the right found the head of McNamee 10 yards out, but his effort went just over the bar. Then, three minutes later, a corner was met by a powerful downward header by Philson 8 yards from goal, but Allen Huxley produced a splendid save to deny the Carrick centre-back.

Comrades’ confidence rose as they gained a gained a surprisingly large amount of attacking possession for a team with a one man disadvantage. On 66 minutes a speculative shot by Mark McClelland from 35 yards deflected off a defender and looped up over Shannon, but also just over the bar. Then, on 71 minutes McClelland hit a great shot from the right edge of the penalty area, which looked destined for the far corner of the net, before Shannon produced a fine flying save to tip the ball wide.

The hard-working McClelland had been short of support after the Burns sending-off, but on 74 minutes manager Chambers went for it by introducing a second striker in Ricky Moore and this was to prove a very effective move, with the Carrick defence given a lot to worry about, as the good possession won by the Comrades midfield now had more of an outlet.

On 77 minutes Comrades were back on level terms and Ricky Moore was involved. A long high ball forward saw him challenge with a defender and the ball was flicked through to ex- Carrick striker Mark McClelland, who had gambled on such an outcome and was able to run through, holding off a challenge and calmly slotting the ball low past Shannon from 14 yards.

Carrick had a chance to restore their lead on 79 minutes when a corner found the head of Bloomer 8 yards from goal, but his effort went over the bar.

However, it was Comrades who had the best chance to take all three points in the 85th minute. Ricky Moore hit a low shot from 16 yards, which the previously impressive Shannon could only fumble out. The ball fell to Mark McClelland, in a great position, 10 yards from goal, but he completely failed to connect with his first-time effort, with the goal at his mercy.

Three minutes into injury-time Carrick had a final chance when a cross from the left found Craig at the back post, but his headed effort was pushed over the bar by the impressive Allen Huxley.

The final whistle brought much more celebration from the Comrades fans than their Carrick rivals, with the home side having displayed a great deal of spirit and indeed good play to eventually look the better team with ten men.

This result keeps Comrades unbeaten run going and it is now seven games in all competitions since Gordon Chamber’s side has tasted defeat.