Bryansburn 1st XI travelled to Ulidia Playing Fields to play 1A side Rosario YC on Saturday in the 2nd Round of the Irish Cup and came away victorious after a seven goal thriller. The final result was all the more amazing as ‘Burn had trailed 3-0 with only fifteen minutes remaining.
The home side started the more brightly and from the first whistle had Bryansburn on the back foot. Rosario were playing attractive football but in the 9th minute, after a foul on Culbert, McConkey unleashed a thunderous free kick from thirty yards that unfortunately went inches high over the crossbar.
Bryansburn during the first half were struggling to cope with the pace and movement of the 1A side and in particular were finding it difficult to cope with the front pairing which consisted of a gigantic 6ft 6 Jan Koller look-alike playing alongside his veteran playing partner whose movement and craft around the box at times had Magee and Kane bamboozled.
However, Bryansburn, although their passing game was very poor during the first half, were still attacking and looking dangerous on the break. Tumelty had a great effort on 23 minutes when he drove a cracking shot with the outside of his foot but his shot came crashing off the crossbar and down onto the line and the keeper managed to scramble it away.
Another half chance fell to McConkey when he broke from midfield and with Culbert making a great run to create the opening, McConkey’s shot was pulled right and the chance was squandered.
Rosario on 32 minutes had a great chance of their own when the big Centre-forward found himself clear in the box but his shot somehow missed the target from ten yards for what was a real let off for the visitors. However, that was only a warning for what was to come when great play down the wing from the right Full-back and his cross found the big Centre-Forward unmarked and he made no mistake this time when he popped up and opened the scoring for a deserved half time lead. HT 1-0.
Bryansburn made a positional change at halftime with Tumelty now partnering Culbert up front and Malomo-Paris going out on the right and from the start of the 2nd Tumelty had the Rosario defence in disarray. The backline were finding it hard to get to grips with the sharpness and pace of Tumelty and it was an indication of what was to come.
Bryansburn early in the 2nd half had three great chances in quick concession to equalise, firstly Culbert was put clear one on one with the keeper but the home keeper made a great save low to his left. This was followed up when he made another great save with his legs from Tumelty and then Murray broke through a static defence but his shot was scuffed wide of the far post.
Those missed chances looked to have came back to haunt Bryansburn.
On 63 minutes Rosario doubled their advantage albeit with a lot of controversy surrounding it. The initial ball that was cleared down the touchline was easily one yard out of play and the home side linesman failed to raise the flag and the ball was eventually put out for a corner. Worse was to come and it was sods law when the resulting corner was put into the box only for Culbert in his attempt to clear it directed it into his own net.
This was a cruel blow to the visitors after such a great start to the 2nd half and their woes were made worse when minutes later the big Centre-Forward extended their lead when he rolled and turned Kane on the edge of the box and he fired a left footed shot past the outstretched Doran.
For what was to follow for the visiting can only be described as Roy of the Rovers stuff.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock Bryansburn pulled one back when the ball was played up to Culbert who stepped over the ball which deceived the Rosario centre half and Culbert broke into the box and picked Tumelty out with a well weighted cross and Tumelty fired in a bullet header to give the visitors a lifeline.
Minutes later Tumelty got his 2nd when great work down the right from McConkey, he drilled a venomous cross low into the box and Tumelty with a deft touch and exquisite shot rifled the ball past the home keeper which had the home side rocking and out on their feet.
The comeback was complete on 87 minutes when a corner from McConkey on the left was put in and after a goalmouth scramble, up popped Magee to fire in the equaliser, which looked like taking the game into extra time.
However the visiting team were not finished yet and pressed Rosario back on the search for the winner and with great grit and determination from Culbert he forced another corner. Right on 90 minutes a carbon copy of the equalising goal the corner was whipped in and after a melee in the box Culbert found himself free at the back post to poke the ball home to send the visiting support and management team into raptures.
After a very nervous and tense four minutes of injury time the referee blew up for Bryansburn to record their best ever comeback in Intermediate football and progress into the 3rd round.
After such a disappointing 1st half where Bryansburn probably played their poorest half of football of the season but to come out and perform the heroics in the 2nd half is a credit to each and every one of the players. It is so evident that there is the spirit and belief within the side this year and there is no doubt a comeback of this nature will be etched in the minds of the ‘Burn players and supporters for years to come.
The 3rd XI pushed League-leaders Greenwell Star all the way before being edged out 4-2 late on.
‘Burn had the wind advantage in the first half but the early play was all dictated by the home side who pressed ‘Burn back. Bryansburn played some nice possession football when they did get the ball but too often promising attacks were blown up for offside. Thompson did force a great save from the keeper with a powerful low drive but it was Greenwell who were carving out any chances of note. It came as no surprise when they finally opened the scoring with a flowing move down the right, cross and header at the back post. Bryansburn stuck to their task and were rewarded when Cardwell found space in the box but was fouled just as he was about to shoot. Dempster stepped up and finished well from the spot to equalise. ‘Burn continued to give as good as they got and although Greenwell pressed hard at times the back four of Cole, McComb, Storey and Beckett were outstanding. Just when it looked as though ‘Burn would go in level at the break, Greenwell took the lead. There was a touch of controversy as Storey seemed to be pushed in the build-up but there was no arguing with the quality finish on the volley that gave Brady no chance.
Greenwell thought that they had sealed the points when they took a 3-1 lead early in the second half but Bryansburn hung in there and played their way back into the game. On the hour mark they pulled a goal back when Dempster slipped his marker on the edge of the box and hammered the ball into the top corner for his 10th goal of the season.
Now only 3-2 ahead Greenwell sensed that they were in a game and Bryansburn had three great chances to draw level. All fell to top scorer Cardwell but unusually he did not take them. Firstly a superb ball from Murphy put him clean through and although he did everything right the ball bobbled just as he shot. Then he was through again but as he was taking the ball round the keeper the custodian got a vital touch. The third time a great saving tackle denied him. Greenwell did clip the outside of the post from a free-kick and ‘Burn had to survive a scare when Brady was penalised inside his area and the home side were awarded an indirect free in the box but the wall did its job. Two minutes from time Greenwell scored a fourth goal and finally made the points safe.
That’s twice ‘Burn have now played the League –leaders and although they are a very good side Bryansburn haven given a good account of themselves proving that they are not out of place in the Premier League.
The 4ths made the short journey to play 3rd Bangor OB ll in the first round of the Reserve Team Cup and progressed after a penalty shootout.
Playing into the strong wind ‘Burn had to withstand a lot of early sustained pressure. The defence of Hoy, S McAllister, Armstrong and Proctor coped well ably supported by the hard working midfield of Turnbull, Jeffers, Geddis and McCullough. 3rd Bangor were mainly restricted to shooting from long range and these were well dealt with by stand-in keeper Patterson who also made an excellent save on the one occasion when 3rd did get through. ‘Burn’s attempts were restricted to breakaways but Gilmer and Cairnduff always posed problems and both went close before 3rd took the lead after half an hour when another long range shot was pushed away by Patterson only for a forward to follow up and score from the rebound.
With the wind behind them in the second half, Burn took control with N McAllister having replaced the injured Geddis. The equaliser duly came from the in-form Gilmer and then ‘Burn took the lead when McCullough appeared at the back post to rifle home. 3rd responded well and a period of pressure was rewarded when their forward picked up the ball just inside the box and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner. ‘Burn then lost Hoy to a serious injury when he fell awkwardly and dislocated his shoulder and had to be replaced by Crawley. Armstrong then went close from distance and Gilmer very nearly won it in the last minute when a flowing move ended with him heading just over from a Cairnduff cross.
Neither side created many chances in extra time although Turnbull very nearly won it for ‘Burn with the last kick when his speculative shot from 30 yards clipped the top of the crossbar. The match then went to a penalty shoot out with Patterson proving to be the hero saving two attempts and seeing another put past the post. McCullough, Patterson himself, and Crawley all scored for ‘Burn to put them through by 3 penalties to 1.
Training continues at Ward Park tonight (Thur) at 6.30pm and on Tuesday 8pm at Bangor Sportsplex.
Fixtures this Saturday: 1st XI V Orangefield OB (h), 2nd XI V Downpatrick ll (a), 3rd XI V Comber YM (h) and 4th XI V Corrymeela ll (a).
The Christmas Dinner has been booked in the Stormont Hotel for Saturday 19th December and there are now only two places left. Anyone interested can secure their place with a £25 deposit to be given to Alan Dempster asap. All outstanding deposits must be paid this week are places will be cancelled.
All players are reminded that annual subscriptions are now due. Could those who have not yet paid please do so this Saturday.
