Bryansburn Rangers produced a memorable comeback in their 5rh Round JJB Sports Irish Cup tie at Nortel to force a replay after trailing by a two goal deficit at the break and were extremely unfortunate not to book their place in the next round. The replay takes place at Ballywooley today (Thur) kick-off 1.30pm and both sides have a great incentive as the winners have been drawn away to Irish League Premier side Coleraine in the 6th Round on 13th February.
Bryansburn were unbeaten in NAFL Division 1B this season but Nortel were also unbeaten and top of NAFL Division 1A so they were clear favourites as well as having home advantage. However Manager TJ Young had a full squad available to him and ‘Burn travelled in confident mood feeling that they could cause an upset. ‘Burn made a positive start and had a great chance in the opening minute when the home keeper kicked a clearance straight to R.Barr 25 yards out but his shot lacked the power to trouble the custodian.
However after that good initial burst it was the home side who took over and they were extremely unlucky not to take an early lead. In the 3rd minute keeper Steventon dropped a cross straight to the feet of a striker but fortunately Kane deflected his shot over the bar. The corner was taken from the left and a flicked header beat Steventon but was headed off the line by Maguire. Two more corners followed in quick succession, which were well defended, and then Steventon comfortably saved a long-range shot as Bryansburn survived the early storm.
‘Burn then came well into the game and put together some promising attacking moves. In the 8th minute Maguire had a good shot deflected for a corner and a minute later the same player was released by Tumelty but his pull-back was cut out at the expense of another corner. Good work on the right by R.Barr then saw him beat the Full-back and his cross was just flicked off the head of Culbert in the middle. The best chance of the match so far came in the 16th minute when Tumelty and S.Barr combined to set up Culbert but he screwed his effort wide of the far post.
At this stage ‘Burn were on top but a superb 25-yard shot from the home side whistled inches past the post as Nortel threatened for the first time since their early onslaught. This was followed by two corners in the space of a minute with McGimpsey clearing the first one and Maguire the second one off the line as Bryansburn were yet again extremely fortunate to keeper their goal intact. The visitors then attacked again and Culbert sent Tumelty scampering through and his cross was flicked inches wide of the post by R.Barr. As play flowed form end to end Nortel flashed a header just over before Cooling became the first player in the book for a rash challenge out on the Bryansburn right in the 29th minute. It was to prove costly because when the resulting free-kick was played into the box by Bell, Steventon fumbled it and the ball dropped to the feet of Fenner who bundled it over the line to give the home side the lead. Worse was to come as Nortel doubled their lead one minute later. Ironically it came from a Bryansburn free-kick into the box at the other end. The ball was headed out to Lorrimer and his excellent long ball found Fenner and his sublime finish from just outside the box made it 2-0.
From being well in the game Bryansburn were now really up against it but the side responded well and finished the half strongly. Tumelty skinned a defender on the flank, made it to the by-line and pulled the ball back to R.Barr but he shot over from eight yards out. Then in the 44th minute an S.Barr cross was headed behind for a corner. It was cleared only as far as the lurking Tumelty on the edge of the box he skipped past a defender but the keeper turned his low shot round the post.
In first half injury time Nortel caught Bryansburn on the break and an excellent saving tackle from Graham stopped ‘Burn falling 3-0 down behind. It was to prove crucial because that might have killed the game off. As it was ‘Burn reached the break still confident that they could get back in the tie.
Nortel started the second half brightly and shot just wide after a good corner routine but after that Bryansburn took over. They were rewarded for some positive play when they won a penalty in the 56th minute. Cooling made a brilliant run from the back and fed R.Barr who turned his man and was sent sprawling in the box. However Tumelty was then denied from the spot by the home keeper who made an excellent save diving to his right to tip the ball round the post for a corner.
Perhaps Bryansburn had blown their chance of staging a comeback but Murray was introduced to the fray in place of Maguire and he had an immediate impact within minutes as ‘Burn pulled a goal back in the 59th minute. R.Barr made a terrific run down the right, his cross was laid back by Tumelty where Murray was on hand to drill the ball into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
A.Thompson then replaced Cooling and the momentum was now clearly with Bryansburn. R.Barr, who was having an outstanding game, crossed from the right and the keeper made a superb save to thwart Culbert. ‘Burn kept plugging away and the equaliser finally arrived in the 76th minute. Murray crossed from the left and a defender, under pressure from Thompson, only managed to head the ball back across his own goal and R.Barr hooked a volley into the roof of the net.
Ten minutes from time Graham made a couple of great challenges on Nortel’s Bell and the home player clearly stamped on him. It was spotted by the referee who pulled a straight red card out of his pocket. Three minutes later Steventon redeemed himself for his first half howler with the save of the match. A Nortel free-kick was headed across goal and he pulled off a tremendous save from a close-range volley as Nortel nearly stole a winner.
Four minutes from the end came the defining moment of the game when Bryansburn should have booked their place in the next round. R.Barr burst through with only the keeper to beat and squared the ball to Tumelty six yards out but somehow the keeper managed to throw himself across goal to deflect the ball for a corner. What part of his body the ball hit is irrelevant, the fact is it kept his side in the Cup.
A corner then came out to S.Barr and his effort was saved by the keeper before McConkey replaced him for the last few minutes. There was to prove only one last chance of note when Culbert galloped on to a through ball, the keeper raced out of his box and they clashed as they reached the ball at the same time. The referee brandished Culbert a yellow card which was harsh to say the least as the ball was there to be won.
The referee played four minutes injury time and the game finished 2-2 meaning both side have to do it again.
Bryansburn deserve a lot of credit for battling back so well and may feel that they deserved to go through on the back of their second half performance. It was a great team performance but “Man of the Match” went to R.Barr who was simply outstanding.
There will be no training tonight (Thur) because of the 1st team Irish Cup replay this afternoon. On Saturday the fixtures are as follows: 1st XI V Rathfriland Rangers (h), 2nd XI V Lisburn Rangers ll (a), 3rd XI V Abbey Villa lll (h) and 4th XI V Stranmillis 37th OB ll (a).
The next social event is a Quiz on Saturday 6th February and all players are asked to make a special effort to attend. Quizmaster is David Corr.
