Newfound cutting edge puts Comber in seventh heaven

Boss Picking hails form of young forward Conville as Park Way men extend winning run

Ben McMorris has been Comber's only major summer arrival

Mark Picking admits he likes this new, more ruthless Comber Rec he’s witnessing this season after they extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 Border Cup win over Shamrock on Saturday.

Brett Conville, Ciaran Gillan, Harry Grierson and Lex Walker were all on target for the hosts at the weekend to set up a third round trip to Premier Division rivals Derriaghy on October 7.

With Drumaness and Dromara Village having been dispatched in their only two games so far in the league, and progress made in the Steel and Irish cups — including a stand-out defeat of Armagh City in the latter — it’s been a perfect opening few weeks to the new campaign for the Park Way outfit.

Last season, their first back in the Amateur League’s top flight after a 10-year exile, was not without its own successes, as Picking and joint-manager Gareth McKeown’s men led the way for much of the campaign before eventually finishing third behind Crumlin Star and now departed champions Rathfriland.

But while stopping short of backing Comber to conquer all before them this season, the former Linfield man was in no mood to play down the potential at the club either, feeling they are better equipped for their experiences last time round.

“Obviously we’re not getting carried away, it’s only two league games and the rest cup games, but yeah, it’s been a good start,” Picking told the Belfast Telegraph.

“We’re playing well and the boys have got a bit of confidence about them, they’re buzzing.

“I think as a team, last year we learned quite a bit. Obviously game management is one thing, we went gung-ho all the time