Monday 3rd May 2010 - Ladbrokes.com Championship 1

Ballyclare Comrades team

Subs: 12.Ronnie Burns, 14.Stevie Bainbridge, 15.Andy Long, 16.Simon McGowan

Ballinamallard United: Morrison, Anderson, Carters, Stafford, Maguire, Hutchison, Beacom, Khan, Crilly, Higginbotham, Crawford. Subs - Flaherty, Liggett, Chambers.

Comrades substitutions

Marty McAvoy

Stevie Bainbridge

Stevie McDowell

Ronnie Burns

Goals

Andy Simms (54')

Andy Simms (74')

Comrades man of the match

Andy Simms

Comrades secured their Championship 1 status by taking all three points from their long trip to Ballinamallard and in the process condemning Coagh United to relegation.

For this vital game, Gordon Chambers had to make a number of changes to his line up. Missing were the injured Andy Long, only fit to make up the numbers on the bench, and the unavailable Stuart Galbraith. Into the side came inexperienced youngsters Neil McGrath, at left-back and Marty McAvoy in midfield, whilst Darren Munster swapped to right-back from his usual left-back position. The manager, however, maintained an attacking 4-3-3 formation, in a game where only a win could guarantee safety.

The match opened brightly with both sides having early chances. In the 4th minute, the home side came close when Crawford flicked on a Beacom free kick, but his effort went just over the bar. Then, four minutes later, Andy Simms skimmed the post with a free kick for Comrades.

Comrades were certainly playing like a team with a mission. On 11 minutes ‘Mallard keeper Morrison had to scoop out an Andy Simms free-kick from under the bar.

At the other end the home side also looked dangerous. In the 17th minute Hutchison had a strike saved by Allen Huxley. Whilst there was an even better chance Ballinamallard had a great chance second later when Khan threaded a neat through ball to Crawford, but his shot went past the post from a good position.

‘Mallard’s dangerous flurry saw Crawford break through on goal a minute later, but Allen Huxley did very well to tip his resulting effort onto the bar.

The rest of the half was a quieter affair and the sides went in at half-time with the game scoreless.
Nine minutes into the second period Comrades got the breakthrough their loyal travelling fans had been willing. A free-kick was won within striking distance and Andy Simms stepped up to fire an unstoppable effort past Morrison.

Three minutes later the home side had a good chance to equalise when Stafford headed over from a Beacom free-kick. Whilst, a minute later, the same player saw a shot go just wide of the target.
On 74 minutes, however, Comrades got the goal to seal the points and their place in the top flight of the Championship next season. Another free-kick was won, when a ‘Mallard player was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box. Once again, free-kick wizard Andy Simms stepped up to take it and the result was the same, as he fired a shot into the net past the helpless keeper.

Comrades fans were jubilant and they could enjoy the rest of the game, as this second goal seemed to sap the resistance of the tired looking home side and Gordon Chambers' men were able to play out the remainder of the time comfortably.

The final whistle was met by cheers from the visiting supporters and joy amongst the Comrades players, as they had managed to produce a result when it counted, to stave off the spectre of relegation.