Write a commentNewry Ladies 4-0 Cooke Ladies
On Saturday, 15th November, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played Cooke1st XI Ladies at home. Newry won the toss choosing to play home second half but pressed on Cooke from the start. Both sides played hard and fast for the first fifteen minutes. Newry were on the attack when Aimee Magowan on the right wing drove the ball through the Cooke defence and smashed the ball into the back of the Cooke goal putting Newry into the lead. This gave Newry the confidence to keep the pressure on and were awarded several corners from which Laverne Inns (Captain) picked the ball up on a rebound and reverse slapped the ball into the Cooke goal. Cooke also had a couple of corners before half-time but due to the strong Newry defence Cooke hit the ball wide leaving the score Newry two nil up after 35 minutes.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong, battling for every pass but neither side conceding any further goals. Twenty minutes into the second half Aimee Magowan brought the ball into the circle once again and passed the ball across the goal to find Chrissie Mc Auley’s stick on the post who scored a third goal for Newry. There was no stopping Aimee Magowan and five minutes before the end of play she drove the ball into the back of the Cooke goal once again putting Newry into a four nil lead.
NOHC Team - Carol Waddell (goals) Laverne Inns (Captain), Laura Simpson (Vice-Captain), Alison Gamble, Diane Mc Minn, Lynne Ervine, Kathryn Baird, Aimee Magowan, Gayle Davidson, Chrissie Mc Auley, Nicola Shields, Anna Bingham, Sara Adams and Naomi Dickson
Newry 2’s 5-1 Cookstown 2’s
Newry hosted Cookstown on Saturday hoping to continue their recent good run of form. A win would see them equal last season’s total points already at this early stage. Cookstown started brightly and looked to play a passing game from the back, causing Newry problems as they tried to keep up with their slick passing. For all of Cookstown’s early possession they could not break through a resolute Newry defence. The home side decided to press the Cookstown defence when in possession and this reaped dividends straight away as Greer forced the defence into a miss placed pass which Andrew Marks picked up who found Greer again who slotted the ball home.
The lead was short lived however as Cookstown got back on level terms with through a well worked short corner. In the remainder or the first half the teams were evenly matched until Simon McCafferty broke his baron scoring spell with a short corner to bring to an end nearly two years without a goal.
Just after the break Newry started in electrifying fashion. Three goals came in the first five minutes to blow Cookstown out of the water. The first came from McCafferty as he notched up his second of the day again from a short corner, and he wasn’t finished there. McCafferty rounded off his hat-trick when he was picked out with the pass of the match from Daryl Barlow as he split the Cookstown defence from well inside his own half, leaving McCafferty to pick the ball up with only the keeper to beat, calmly slotting the ball home under the advancing keepers body.
Newry were flying now, and great work down the right flank from Adam Foster seen him lay the ball in to Dale Pollock who fired a in fierce low drive to open his account for the season. With the score 5-1 the game was effectively over, Newry played to see out the game however Cookstown gave their all to get back into the game but it wasn’t to be their day. The game ended 5-1, Newry taking the spoils and continuing their solid start to the season.
Team: S. Henry, D. Hogg, J. Gregg, A. Baird, D. Barlow, J. Greer, D. England, A. Foster, A. Marks, M. McCullough, P. English, S. McCafferty, N. McGuffin, D. Pollock
Instonian’s 4’s 2-2 Newry 3’s
Newry travelled to Instonian’s for the late 4pm push back with a depleted side. Even with a small squad they fought hard to keep themselves in the game as Instonian’s started well. Eddy Graham making his debut in nets was in great form with a number of good saves early on. However even with Graham playing well between the posts, Instonian’s scored first midway through the first half. Newry immediately however struck back with Michael McCullough scoring to get the away side back on level terms. The sides went in at half time with nothing to split the two teams.
Early in the second half McCullough got his second and Newry did well to hold onto this lead as Instonian’s lead siege on the Newry net. Just when it looked like Newry would come away with an unlikely win the home side scored with only a few minutes remaining. Newry will be pleased to come away with a point after this tough away fixture.
Newry travelled to Instonians with 11 players for an important match on Saturday. Knowing this would be a tough match the Newry men started the game well by cancelling out numerous attacks by Instonians. Eddy Graham in goals making many outstanding saves and the rest of the defence clearing the ball out of danger. Newry also mounted attacks of their own through Blakley and Mccoullough but we're not able to break the deadlock. The first goal came for Instonians, this lead was short lived with a goal set up from Blakley and calmly slotted home by the Michael Mccoullough. The score 1-1 going into half time.
At the start of the second half Newry increased their lead with another goal coming from McCullough. Newry had to contend with numerous attacks from Instonians with the Newry defence and keeper again breaking down every attack until the inevitable happened and Instonians equalised. The game finished 2-2.
Team: E. Graham, A. McGaffin, J. Niblock, M. McCullough, M. McCullough, A. Collum, J. Lawson, R. Cartmill, S. Blakley, A. Foster, A. Baird
