Write a commentNewry 1s 1-2 Cookstown 1’s
Newry hosted Cookstown on Saturday, back in the Ulster Premier after being relegated from the Irish Hockey League. The hosts lined up with a thread bare team due to a lengthy injury list. The visitors would have been expecting to go away with an easy three points, however they got what will probably be one of their tougher tests of the season.
The game started off with both sides testing each out without really causing much in the way of work for either keeper. It wasn’t long though before the visitors proved how ruthless they can be in front of goal as they rattled home a low drag flick from their first short corner. Newry had chances of their own to get back in the game with both Keith McWilliams and David Andrews both being denied by the Cookstown keeper. The Newry defence were keeping Cookstown at bay but the visitors would still show glimpses of their quality being denied by the post to extend their lead just before the break.
The second half saw a real end to end game as both teams went all out for the second goal of the match. Luckily the goal fell the way of Newry as veteran Andrews picked the ball up on the left wing before driving into the circle to find Kris Fletcher who scored at the second attempt, his first goal since his return to Newry.
Newry could not hold out for long as Cookstown again scored with a short corner just a matter of minutes after the home side got on level terms. Newry really pushed for the equaliser, but could not find the quality in front of goal of their opponents. Newry forced a number of short corners as they began to dominate the end of the game. David England was unlucky with his attempt as a low drag flick smashed off the upright, McWilliams was also denied by the Cookstown keeper. With the final whistle ready to go Newry won a short corner, England forcing a smart save from the keeper before Neil Liggett picked up the rebound to force another corner. The second corner fizzled out as Newry fell to a 2-1 defeat, Cookstowns celebrations at the end showed how close Newry came to getting a surprising point.
Team: J. Porter, C. Henning, D. England, N. Liggett, A. Baird, N. McKnight, R. Irwin, C. McKnight, K. Fletcher, D. Andrews, K. McWilliams, A. Megaw, J. Greer
Banbridge 4’s 2-5 Newry 2’s
After an extremely wet Saturday morning the match at HaveLock was giving the green light, both teams started brightly, with chances at both ends.
It was the away team that broke the deadlock with a great through ball from midfield to Dale Pollock who took the ball in his stride before unleashing a rocket into the top left corner leaving the keeper as a spectator.
Bann hit back with a penalty stroke, even with the best efforts of the stand in keeper Eddie Graham the ball was dispatched low to his right to level the score.
A quick breakaway from Bann caught the Newry defence out of position and after Graham cleared the first attempt unfortunately it went straight to a Bann player who's quick pass sent his team mate 1 on 1 and he made no mistake at the second time of asking. At 2-1 down and the home side looking like they had just hit their stride, it wasn't looking good for Newry. Newry had a chance to get back on level terms when Simon McCafferty stepped up to take a penalty stroke after Pollock had been fouled when straight through on goal, however his weak effort was easily saved by the Bann keeper.
Newry did get back on level terms soon after though with Veteran Mervyn McCaigue on hand at the back post for a tap in when the ball was not cleared by the home side.
This was the turning point in the game and Newry were on the front foot after this,
They managed to edge ahead before half time with a great move which started at the half way line where Andy Marks fired a ball forward to McCafferty who found Alan McMinn in the circle who finished first time.
In the second half it was all Newry as the pushed forward trying to put the game to bed.
A well worked move from a hit out seen Paul English find Richy Mcminn in midfield and after shaking off two challenges he slipped the ball to Philly Moffet who found Dale tightly marked but after shrugging off his marker and creating some space, managed to fashion out a reverse stick shot which looped over the advancing keeper.
After that Bann did show some attacking threat and won several short corners
Which Newry defended well and new keeper Ashley Collum pulling off a save low to his left to keep the home side out.
Paul English moved forward from defence as Newry were awarded their second stroke of the day as English was fouled by the keeper when clean through. He stepped up himself and slotted home sending the keeper the wrong way. Newry were now 5-2 up and played the rest of the game out in comfort with young Gareth Alerdice standing out with a great composed performance.
Team: E. Graham, P. English, A. Marks, G. Alerdice, P. Moffett, R. McMinn, A. McMinn, M. McCaigue, M. McCullough, D. Pollock, S. McCafferty, A. Collum, K. Best, S. Graham
Result
Newry Ladies 0-10 Kilkeel Ladies
