Bryansburn Rangers were beaten by Nortel after extra time and penalties in their JJB Sports Irish Cup 5th Round replay at Clandeboye Park last Wednesday. ‘Burn looked to have booked their trip to Coleraine when they led 2-1 with thirty seconds of injury time remaining only for the Monkstown men to equalise through a bizarre own goal. Then four minutes from the end of extra time Bryansburn were awarded a penalty with the sides still locked at 2-2 but after sending off two Nortel players the referee cruelly reversed his decision on the advice of a linesman.
So to the game itself. Bryansburn were at full strength apart from Thompson and McConkey and made a bright start with all the play in the Nortel half. The first chance of the game came in the 8th minute when McGimpsey played in R.Barr down the right, He cut in, beat his man only to see his shot deflected for a corner. Nortel began to settle a bit and Magee and Kane both made important headers to cut out the threat of danger but on the whole ‘Burn remained on top. Murray then threaded a ball through to R.Barr but the keeper was quick off his line to smother at his feet.
Nortel responded with a snap shot that flew across the face of goal and then in the 13th minute came the best chance of the game so far. Maguire played a long ball, Culbert headed it on and R.Barr found himself clean through but the keeper deflected his effort for a corner with his legs. The same player was in on goal minutes later after good work from Maguire and Tumelty but this time he delayed and his shot was blocked for yet another corner. It was taken by S.Barr and flew across the face of goal with no-one able to get that vital touch.
In the 20th minute Tumelty made a surging run and was hacked down by the visitors no 5, a foul that gave him the games first yellow card. S.Barr played the resulting free-kick low to Culbert who forced his sides 6th corner. Nortel could then have taken an undeserved lead when a free-kick, harshly awarded against Maguire, bounced on top of the bar and over.
Bryansburn were well on top and their 8th corner finally reaped dividends in the 32nd minute. Maguire found Tumelty with it and when he flicked the ball up it was handled in the box. Culbert stepped up and made no mistake with the resultant penalty. Nortel rallied somewhat and Kane had to make a terrific block and Steventon held a long-range free-kick before a low 25yard shot beat Steventon but hit the outside of the post. HT 1-0.
Bryansburn could not have made a better start to the second half doubling their lead in the opening minute. McGimpsey played in R.Barr and although the keeper saved his first effort he made no mistake with the rebound. The game could have been over three minutes later when an S.Barr free-kick fell invitingly for Culbert but he shot over. Nortel were then given a lifeline in the 52nd minute when Kane was adjudged to have handled in the box and they reduced the arrears from the spot with McKay on target. The goal visibly lifted the away side and Bryansburn had to defend a couple of corners before Steventon saved a low shot. On the hour Cooling replaced the injured Magee before ‘Burn nearly regained their two goal lead McGimpsey heading an S.Barr free inches wide.
As the game reached the closing stages Nortel were doing all the probing without looking like scoring and to counteract this Manager TJ Young changed the formation of the side with Malomo-Paris coming on for Captain Culbert in the 77th minute. ‘Burn were holding the ball up well and running the clock down as that place in the 6th round edged closer. Nortel had a decent header before S.Barr drilled a good free-kick just wide after a fracas that saw another Nortel player go in the book.
The 4th official displayed tow minutes of injury time on his board and as the game reached the final thirty seconds it looked as though ‘Burn were through. Then disaster struck. A free-kick to the back post by Nortel reached McRoberts who lifted the ball over Steventon only for it to hit the post, come out and hit Steventon and go into the net for the most unfortunate of equalisers. FT 2-2
There were few chances in the first period of extra time. S.Barr fired a free-kick into the box and it somehow missed everyone and ended up in the keepers arms, while Tumelty wriggled through and was only denied by a last ditch tackle. At the other end Kane made a good block to thwart Nortel’s only chance of note.
Early in the second period Shaw replaced Maguire for Bryansburn’s final substitution. There was then little of note until the game exploded to life in the 126th minute. A foul on S.Barr caused a flare-up, which had to be calmed down. As the resulting free-kick was about to be taken a linesman spotted Nortel’s Bond punching Bryansburn’s Murray in the box. The kick was cleared for a corner and then the referee spoke to the Linesman before brandishing a red card to Bond and pointing to the penalty spot. While Tumelty waited patiently to take the spot kick the Nortel players argued resulting in a second red card shown this time to Boyle for dissent. So after a delay of some five minutes Tumelty was now ready to take the penalty which was likely to send ‘Burn through with the opposition down to nine men and extra time officially up. However the same Linesman had his flag raised again and pointed out that the ball had not been in play when the incident happened and the referee subsequently changed his mind and awarded a corner. Perhaps the free-kick should have been retaken rather than a corner signalled but either way it was heartbreaking for the large Bryansburn support.
The corner was cleared off the line and ‘Burn had renewed hope when five minutes of injury time was signalled. Most of the five minutes was spent in the Nortel box although on one occasion the visitors broke three against one but fortunately a forward strayed offside.
So to the dreaded penalty shoot-out. The first seven kicks were all scored to put Nortel 4-3 in front with Graham, S.Barr and Cooling all making no mistake whereas one Nortel kick hit the post and another the bar but still went in. The unfortunate Murray then missed the target for Bryansburn and it was left to Loughran to score the decisive kick to send Nortel through.
So an amazing Irish Cup run came to an end in heart-breaking fashion. Certainly Nortel were not a better side then Bryansburn over the two games and if nothing else ‘Burn showed that if they can achieve their no1 aim this season which is to get promoted to Division 1A then they will have nothing to fear next year as Nortel are currently unbeaten League-leaders in 1A.
Our thanks go to O’Kane Food Services for sponsoring the match ball for this game. Much appreciated.
