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North Down 1's 2-7 Newry 1's
Newry travelled to league leaders North Down on Saturday in a rematch of the Linden Cup semi final two weeks previous in which Newry were victorious. North Down defeated league contenders Portadown 1-0 last week so this was a very important game for Newry to get something out of.
The visitors started slowly while North Down came haring out of the traps and with a couple of surging runs from midfield they were able to pick holes in Newry's defence. Luckily for the Belfast Road men veteran keeper Robin Hanlon was on the top of his game pulling off a sublime stick save low to his right hand side turning the ball round the post when it looked like it was destined for the bottom corner. Next up was Neil McKnight who somehow cleared a North Down shot off the line as he ran back to cover behind the keeper and twisted to scoop the ball clear.
These two pieces of skill seemed to help Newry's confidence as they then started to see more of the ball but were helped on occasions with North Down's defence playing some sloppy passes leading to Newry's attacks. Richard Nummy put the visitors one up when he deflected in a low cross from Robert Irwin. This lit a fire under Newry as they bombarded North Down's defence with attack after attack and the visitors clinically put North Down to the sword with three quick fire goals in little over five minutes. The first came from Keith McWilliams when he tapped in at the back post only 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute. Again veteran Richard Nummy got on the score sheet and fired home the third of the game with a rocket from a short corner. Robert Irwin got Newry's forth when the North keeper cleared the ball only to find Kyle McCombe who drove forward and aid the ball off to Irwin who collected the ball moved the keeper to the side and slid the ball home North Down pulled one back just before half time with a well placed drag flick to leave the score 4-1 at half time.
It was a pretty stagnant start to the second half with Newry content to keep North Down in front of them and the home side unable to break through a stubborn Newry set-up. With Newry's forwards working feverishly up front North were really struggling to get the ball out and the constant pressure told when Newry pounced to get the fifth of the game as a low cross found Robert Irwin diving in mouth and nose at the back post and deflecting the ball home. The sixth of the game came when McWilliams intercepted a pass on the half way line, drove forward and fired the ball into the circle to Nummy who was just beaten to the ball by the defender but he could only get enough on it to deflect it into his own net. North Down caught Newry out on the counter to get a consolation goal with five minutes left. However there was still time for a seventh to cap the game off with Kyle McCombe getting in on the act tapping in at the back post from a short corner. Nobody could have dreamt up this scoreline before the game but Newry after a magnificent performance beat the league leaders on their home patch and remain unbeaten in their league campaign.
Team: R. Hanlon, D. England, N. McKnight, J. Greer, N. Davenport, C. McKnight, J. Taylor, C. Henning, R. Irwin, R. Nummy, A. Gilmer, K. McCombe, D. Andrews, K. McWilliams
BURN't out in LisBURN !!!!
Newry 0-2 S.Antrim
It was a case of whoever took their chances was going to win this game. Newry dominated the possession and goal attempts column but not the one that mattered. Having missed a hatful of chances and even a penalty stroke it just looked like they couldn’t score.
Newry started the game, keeping with the winning line-up in Cookstown, passing the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and holding onto the ball for long periods of time, just waiting for the gap to open. And it wasn’t too long until this was to happen. As in the 12th minute a great run from Alan McMinn and a few 1-2's along the way saw the ball fired low and hard towards the goal only for McCiague to deflect wide. Newry kept up this attacking play with 2 and 3 glorious chances going agonisingly wide from James Niblock, Glyn Elias and Mervyn McCaigue. Newry still kept putting the pressure on with great runs from Philip Moffett and Alan McMinn, and excellent battling in midfield from David Lawson and Stephen Garvey the goal needed was surely going to come. Any threat to come from South Antrim was quickly cleaned up and distributed in an Newry attack from the ever impressive David Sterritt in defence. Though the goal was not to come.
Half time 0-0
The 2nd half started as the 1st finished, with Newry winning the midfield battle and the shots on the S.Antrim goal coming in thick and fast. Though again to no avail. And suddenly a quick lapse in concentration from Newry giving away a soft Short corner resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded which was perfectly dispatched. 1 nil S.Antrim. Newry was in disbelief and the heads went down. With this, S.Antrim where quick to get another within 4 mins of the restart. 2 nil S.Antrim. The game then started to get slightly rough and ragged at times and a couple of cards where soon dished out. Newry battled on and where more direct in their attacking and soon an opportunity opened up when we where awarded a flick. Alan Mcminn stepping up to take it. The flick was placed well but was matched with a fine save from the Antrim keeper. Time was soon to run out for Newry and it wasnt to be their day.
Team: P. Elmore, J. Lawson, D. Sterritt, K. Best,I, McNeill, A. McMinn, S. Garvey, D. Lawson, M. McCaigue, G. Elias, P. Moffett, A. Patterson, M. McCullough, M. McCullough.
