Comber stay in title fight with strong away victory

7 May 2025

COMBER Rec kept their Premier Division title dreams alive with an unstoppable second half performance away to Dromara Village.

Simon Hanna’s goal looked to be the start of a comfortable outing for Comber, against a side that sits at the opposite end of the table, but they were left stunned when James Costello pulled Dromara level.

Rec knew what was at stake and while doubt could have been cast over their status as title contenders at the mid-way point, that notion was put to bed in the second half.

Brett Conville bagged a six-minute hat-trick and with Village resigned to defeat, Christian Irvine rounded off the scoring.

Comber started on the front foot, driving at the Dromara defence from the word go, and the first chance presented itself after just two minutes.

Brandon Nelson whipped the most inviting of crosses into the box and although Matthew Gibson found himself unmarked, he failed to connect convincingly with his headed effort.

The hosts began to find joy on the counter-attack and came close to snatching a shock lead when Nigel Prentice broke away down the left wing and dribbled into the box.

He managed to get a shot off and would have scored, was it not for Stuart Moore stretching out a leg and deflecting the ball into the grateful grasp of Corey Pollock.

Rec quickly began to reclaim the ascendancy, around the 25-minute mark, forcing a jaw-ping save from Oision McStay as Nelson followed in on the rebound from Dylan Wilson’s attempt.

They broke the deadlock a minute later when Conville’s cross caused a scramble in the box and Hanna made a real captain’s contribution, rifling a half-volley into the bottom corner.

However, they quickly were forced to go back to the drawing board at half-time, with striker Costello holding off his man, calmly rounding Pollock and slotting home to level.

Whatever the Comber manager said during the interval paid instant dividends, as Nelson flicked Hanna’s corner towards the back post, where Conville was waiting to head home.

Dromara, encouraged by their quick response to the visitors’ first goal, drove forward from the restart, threatening to force parity yet again.

Rhys Holland-Hanna sped away from his marker, striding into the box, but he drifted into a tight angle and his effort was comfortably saved by Pollock.

Comber, well aware that their one-goal lead was a precarious one, began to invest more of their resources in their attack, and the risky game plan worked in their favour in the 52nd minute.

Irvine’s long ball found Hanna in front of goal and while the ball got stuck under his feet, his shot saw McStay palm into the feet of Conville, who had a simple finish for 3-1.

Holes were beginning to appear in the Village defence and Rec only needed a further three minutes to net once more.

Another corner proved fruitful, with Hanna delivering a delightful ball into the centre of the box and Conville nodding home to complete his hat trick.

With just over 10 minutes to play, and the result already beyond any doubt, Irvine produced a powerful leap to cap a positive afternoon for his side.

The two sides will face off one again in their next match, with Comber aiming to maintain the pressure they have been applying to league leaders Derriaghy and title rivals Crumlin Star.

Dromara: O McStay, R Walsh, B Hanna, C Mills, M McCandless, N Prentice, J Gregg, J Costello, B Martin (captain), R Holland-Hanna, A Burtney.

Subs: T Stannage, A McClune, R Morrow.

Comber: C Pollock, S Fleck, L Walker, S Moore, C Irvine, K Gaw, D Wilson, S Hanna (captain), B Conville, M Gibson, B Nelson.

Subs: D Thompson, D Donaldson, E Wilson.

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