Boyd saves a draw in Comrades' first friendly

Ballyclare Comrades2

AN INJURY time strike by substitute Matt Boyd earned Ballyclare Comrades a draw in their first pre-season friendly with Chimney Corner as the reds now look ahead to the visit of Glenavon on Saturday.

A mainly youthful Chimney Corner outfit led twice at Allen Park in Antrim, but by conceding that late strike had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Comrades' 7-2 advantage in corners reflected the general trend of play, but the locals were much sharper in attack, and tore open the visitors' defence far too easily. In addition to the two goals, they also rattled the woodwork on two occasions, with Paddy Flood well beaten.

Gordon Chambers paraded three of his signings, including Eddie Hill who is back for another spell with his hometown club. He was joined by defenders Mark Hadden and Aaron Holland, who linked up with Neil McGrath from the Reserves, and Stuart McCullough in the back four.

When McCullough lost his footing thirty yards from goal in the 17th minute, Corner's impressive diminutive skipper Gary Brown raced clear, drew Flood off his line and slipped the ball to Rab Murdock, who walked the ball in to the net.

Ten minutes later a Murdock header rebounded off the bar from a Brown free, but almost straight from the restart Comrades were level, when Andy Simms threaded the ball through to Mark McConnell, who held off a challenge before slipping the ball wide of keeper Kyle Agnew.

When left winger Aidan Swann out-paced Hadden and cut inside, Flood's diving save sent the ball to Brown who had a simple tap in to restore the lead and seconds before the half-time whistle Brown hit the bar with an angled drive.

During the second half Comrades introduced all six out-field subs and managed to keep play mainly in home territory, but rarely tested Agnew.

Ronnie Burns fired one over the top from the edge of the box, and in the 79th minute Agnew pulled off the best save of the afternoon, when he finger-tipped a David Officer drive round the base of the post.

Comrades were now well on top and in added time got the deserved equaliser, when Burns seized on an Agnew lapse and squared the ball to young Boyd, who drilled it in to the unguarded net.

Commenting manager Gordon Chambers said: "There was much evidence of rustiness in our play today, and we will have to sharpen up for this weekend's visit of Glenavon. It was a useful workout, and in the course of the next couple of weeks we will be building up our fitness and sharpness in preparation for the new season."

Ballyclare Comrades: Flood; Hadden McGrath, McCullough, Holland; Irvine, McGowan, Forsythe (C), Simms; McConnell, Hill. Subs: Logue, McDowell, McAvoy, Boyd, Officer, Burns, McAllister (GK).