BALLYCLARE Comrades take a healthy 2-0 lead in to the second leg of their Co-Operative Insurance Cup first round tie against Dergview,but it should have been much more.

The former CIS Cup has been revamped, and is being played on a knockout basis this season, with the early rounds decided on a two legged basis, in which away goals count double, so having denied the County Tyrone side a strike at Dixon Park, puts the Reds firmly in command.

With Jamesie Kirk still on holiday, Gordon Chambers continued in charge, and he announced what will be regarded as an experimental side, in a competition that is not regarded as the number one priority.

Experienced strikers Eddie Hill and Mark Craig were on the bench while David Freyne and Evan Forsythe were not in the panel, and Andy Simms was given a well deserved start. Throughout last season Andy was very patient and could easily have been dubbed the judge, after having spent so much time on the bench, and he justified his inclusion with some inspirational moves down the left flank.

Although Comrades dominated for most of the evening it took two second half strikes by Ricky Higgins and Darren McKay to ensure victory.

Right from the start Dergview were on the back foot, and as early as the 7th minute goalkeeper James O'Reilly came to his side's rescue. He did well to parry a good shot from Simon McGowan, and then made an agile recovery to block again when Andy Simms pounced on the rebound.

While Ian Mannus in the home goal was seldom involved in the action, O'Reilly was kept on his toes, and with saves from Ricky Higgins, Andy Long and Darren McKay he was largely responsible for ensuring that the scorecard was still blank at the break.

During the third quarter Comrades showed even more urgency, and were duly rewarded in the 52nd minute when the persistence of Ricky Higgins paid off. After shrugging off the attention of two defenders, he got a shot on target, but was foiled by O'Reilly. However Higgins picked up the rebound and opened the scoring from close range.

Ten minutes later the overworked O'Reilly pulled off the best save of the evening. Higgins, who was giving the defence a torrid time, again outpaced his marker down the right flank, and picked out Darren McKay at the back post. His first-time volley seemed a sure winner, until O'Reilly pulled off another stunning block from point blank range.

However the Reds were not to be denied, and the pressure paid off two minutes later. This time a neat cushion header by Higgins set up McKay in space twenty yards out, from where he sent a delicate lob over the stranded keeper in to the unguarded net, to deservedly double the lead.

This reverse stung Dergview to produce their best spell.