By Phil Gilmore
A MAGNIFICENT team performance ensured that the Border Regiment Cup returned to Comber for the first time 67 years as the Rec defeated Crumlin Star at Seaview in another Christmas final.
Following on from last year’s Steel and Sons success over Star on Christmas morning, the Comber team knew that their rivals would be out to avenge that defeat and continue their excellent record in this competition having won the trophy five times in the last 12 years.
It was a nervous start to the match for both teams as neither were able to dominate the midfield, with both defences resolute and opting not to complicate things and clearing their lines as the basic principle.As the game developed chances were limited to free-kicks and corners to both teams but again the defending was excellent. The best chance of the half came from Lex Walker’s long throw which dropped on the six-yard line but Kris Gaw just couldn’t get his toe to the ball to poke it in. Scoreless at the break and little to choose between the two teams.
The second half saw Comber begin to get the upper hand in midfield. Just after the 50-minute mark, Comber won another corner. This time it was a textbook training ground set piece which culminated in Christian Irvine rising above the Crumlin Star defence to win the header and return the ball back into the penalty area were, despite efforts to clear, Dylan Wilson was on hand to smash into the back of the net and send the large Comber crowd into raptures.As every Comber tackle was cheered, Crumlin Star started to push to get back on terms. They had a great opportunity to do just that but centre-forward David Fearon’s powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Corey Pollock in the Comber goal.Star went close again through Domhnall Cosgrove whose effort flashed past the Comber goal. Then came the best move of the match when Simon Hanna picked the ball up in his own half and played a defence-splitting diagonal pass for Wilson to latch on to. He pulled it back across the six-yard box for Dylan Donaldson who threw everything at the ball but just couldn’t connect to turn it into the vacant net.
The referee blew the final whistle which sparked jubilant scenes among the huge Comber support who had just watched their team triumph in a Christmas final for the second year in a row.Crumlin Star made the match a real contest but Comber in the end were worthy winners with every Comber player deserving of a mention. The man of the match award could easily have gone to any one of the Rec’s back five, but Dylan Wilson picked up the accolade for another match winning performance for Comber.
It is also important to record the important part that the Comber supporters played, who sang loudly for the duration of the match and were Comber’s 12th man.Congratulations must also go to the management team of Gareth McKeown and Mark Picking and all of the coaching staff involved.
Cap: Comber Rec beat Crumlin Star at Seaview to lift the Border Cup for the first time in almost 70 years.
