COVSUPPORT NORTHERN IRELAND 5-2 CLEO'S ALL STARS BY KEV MONKS
"You could not have scripted this better," said Covsupport Northern Ireland manager Kev Monks after their 5-2 victory over Cleo's All Stars.
Having raised sponsorship for eighteen players, fly over from the Province in tracksuits, arrive in shirts and ties,stop in the Royal Court Hotel, travel to Highfield Road on the official team coach, Covsupport showed no signs of being over awed by being on the hallowed Highfield Road turf.
They were ahead inside eight minutes when a forty yard pass from Neil Adair was collected by striker Andy Bell. All stars keeper Kevin Dremer raced out,the ball deflected off him and fell to Bell to tap into the empty net.
Bell dedicated the goal to manager Kev Monks but the side managed by Stuart Linnell cancelled it out within two minutes when a Craig Freer corner was knocked in by Tim Emery at the far post.
This was a blood and guts affair with tackles flying in from two very competitive sides. Dave Charnley who has considerable non-league and local experience wasted a glorious eleventh minute chance to put his side ahead before Covsupport defender Willie Herron nodded an Ally Beck free kick wide some six minutes later.
Both sides made numerous changes throughout the open period with Monks replacing six players on the half hour mark including Adrian Scott who had played despite suffering from a broken toe picked up in a training session on Saturday and having his toe frozen by physio Steph Coles before the game.
Save of the match came in the 32nd minute when Dremer dived to his left to push away a curling shot from Andy Bell.
In the 37th minute, the players from Northern Ireland regained the lead and Ally Beck kept his cool to race through and comfortably slot the ball into the net.
Back came the All Stars which comprised of a number of experienced players and substitute Tunde was first to a Davie Watson kick out. The pacy forward cut inside before finishing with a low drive.
The goals in this entertaining affair continued to come with Alan Weir putting Covsupport back into the lead when he dispossessed Dremer and tucked the ball into the net from close range.
The goal lifted the Ulstermen and Ryan McAuley missed four chances before one of the biggest City supporters in Northern Ireland and Loughgall FC midfielder Brian Adair realised one of his ambitions when he scored at Highfield Road by driving home after breaking through the All Stars defence in the 77th minute.
Delighted by this goal for the skipper who had organised this game and to whom it means so much, those supporting Covsupport in a reasonable crowd including supporters from Worcester and South Wales, were on their feet again in the 80th minute.
This time, a mistake by Dremer was punished by Andy Bell who was in the right place to score Covsupport's fifth from eight yards and earn a hard fought victory.
HT CovSupp NI 2-2 Cleo's All Stars
FT Covsupp NI 5-2 Cleo's All Stars
GOALS Andy Bell (COV 7& 80 mins)
Tim Emery (Cleo 9 mins)
Ally Beck (COV 37 mins)
Tunde (Cleo 39 mins)
Alan Weir (COV 50 mins)
Brian Adair (COV 77 mins)
Covsupport MOM Andy Bell
TEAMS
Covsupport
Davie Watson,Neil Adair,Adrian Scott,Ian McDowell,Steve Adair,Willie Herron,Derek Davidson,Brian Adair,Ally Beck,Andy Bell,Ryan McAuley,Alan Weir,Gareth Johnson. Neil Johnstone (GK),Coly Grey, Jim McGowan,Mark Rimmington,Ian Weir
Cleos's All Stars
Kevin Dremer,Karl Wood,Kris Robbins,Stewart Carmichael, David Cleobury,Simon Inglestone, Gary Hardwick,Paul Charnley, Joe Gilan,Martin Smith,Tim Emery, Martin Harris,Richard Shale,Craig Freer,Tunde.
