Amateur League goalkeeper reflects on scoring first career goal to secure Irish Cup progress
Comber Rec goalkeeper Corey Pollock admits scoring was “something that I never thought would happen to me” – but he joined an exclusive club by netting on Saturday to help his side secure Irish Cup progression.
Having spent the entirety of his career between the sticks, Pollock is more accustomed to denying goals than getting on the scoresheet himself.
However, the 25-year-old was able to expertly use the swirling winds brought by Storm Boelo – which caused chaos across Northern Ireland – to tick off a remarkable first as Comber Rec booked their spot in the fourth round.
Launching the ball from his own box, the ball sailed high, skipped off the wet surface and looped into the opposition net, putting Comber 2-1 up in a match they’d eventually win 3-2.
Goalkeepers scoring is a rare feat – only six shot-stoppers have struck in Premier League history with Peter Schmeichel the first in October 2001 and Liverpool’s Alisson, who netted against West Brom in May 2021, the last.
"It was great – something that I never thought would happen to me,” Pollock told the News Letter. “I’d never scored in senior football before.
"When it went off my foot, I was like, ‘there's a bit of distance on that’ – a bit more than I expected, to be honest with you! I knew there was a bit of a chance there.
"Then the bounce obviously helped me out a lot as well...I think it confused the keeper because in the warm-up, the ball wasn’t bouncing.
"I don’t think he expected the bounce, I know for sure I wasn't expecting it.
"It didn't even come into my head (to try and score), I just tried getting in behind the defenders for a striker to run on to.
"I didn't really know what to do. At that point, it was 1-1 and only 12 minutes in...I just ran over and started shouting – I didn’t know what to do whatsoever!
"It was good craic (with team-mates), they were giving me a wee bit of stick and all saying ‘you didn’t mean that’...maybe I didn’t!”
Pollock is certainly able to sympathise with his opposite number as he’s all too familiar with the feeling of conceding to a fellow goalkeeper.
“It actually happened to me this season,” added Pollock. "We were playing against Rosemount and it was actually the winner, the only goal of the game...it was a free kick. I blame the wind for that one!”
Comber Rec are unbeaten through eight NAFL Premier Division matches under Stephen Gourley, currently sitting top, and have their sights set on progressing to the Irish Cup’s fifth round – a target for all amateur clubs with Premiership giants entering at that stage.
They’ll meet Wellington Rec in next month’s showdown for the right to potentially take on the likes of Linfield or Glentoran.
"Last season, we made it to the fourth round and drew Ballymacash, who beat us,” said Pollock. “Hopefully we can get into the fifth round and draw one of the big teams.
"Definitely (that’s the dream), 100%. It's just the experience that you want as a player, to play against the best teams you can.
"This is a great opportunity for us to go and do that.”