Write a commentRaphoe 1’s 1 - 3 Newry 1’s
Newry made the long trek to Raphoe in Donegal for their latest match in the Premier league. The visitors arrived on a high having won their last three matches in a row, and this showed throughout the first half. Newry pinned Raphoe inside their own 25 for long periods but with everything so tight and compact in front of goal with this high press, clear cut opportunities were few and far between.
Newry looked dangerous but each attack was thwarted by a resolute Raphoe defence. As the half wore on the visitors started to lose patience allowing the home side back into the game having a number of short corners without luck to end the first half.
Newry flew out of the traps in the second half with Kris Fletcher scoring within two minutes of the restart with a thunderous strike from the edge of the circle. This made Raphoe change tactics, they pushed forward to press Newry higher up the pitch. This paid dividends as they forced a short corner and from the resulting shot which struck Robert Irwin on the arm on the line a Penalty stroke was awarded. Fortunately for Newry the post came to the rescue and Keeper Josh Porter was sent the wrong way but Newry retained their lead. Raphoe did not let this dampen their spirit and they were soon back on level terms scoring from their next short corner. The crowd were getting behind the home side but were quietened when Neil McKnight did brilliant to press the defence high up the pitch and win the ball back before racing to the by line and pulling the ball back for an easy tap in for Mark McCullough with five minutes left. Kyle McCombe back for his first league game of the season picked the ball up on the right hand side after the restart beat two defenders before a Raphoe player when trying to win the ball back, fell, and inexplicably grabbed out for the ball with his hand leaving the umpire with no other choice but to award a penalty stroke. Keith McWilliams slotted home to ease the nerves and give Newry their fourth win in a row moving themselves into third in the table.
Team: J. Porter, C. Henning, D. England, N. Liggett, N. Dvenport, N. McKnight, R. Irwin, J. Greer, K. McWilliams, M. McCullough, K. Fletcher, K. McCombe, A. Megaw
Newry host league leaders Annadale next Saturday at 2pm.
Newry 2’s 2-3 Portadown 2’s
Newry carried on their good form from last week. With a solid first half performance against a young Portadown side Newry were by far the better team inside the first 25 mins.
With loads of dominance from the midfield through to the forwards and their keeper called into action on more than one occasion. The breakthrough came again the same way as last week, through a short corner with Davy Hogg pinging the backboard with one of his trade mark strikes.
Newry fell foul of a lapse in concentration and Portadown capitalised on this and from their 2nd short corner scored the equaliser making it 1-1 at half time
Newry made a few changes at half time and again started to dominate the play with chances falling to the forwards Simon Mccafferty and Richy McMinn.
One of the chances saw McMinn one on one with the keeper waited till the keeper went down and cooly looped the ball over the top of him into an empty net making it 2-1 with 20 minutes to go.
Again though Newry stepped of the pressure and some bad marking at the back saw a unmarked Portadown forward all alone in the circle.
So when the ball was squared to him he had time to pick his spot and finished high to Collum's right making it 2-2
This saw both sides pick up the pace and with real end to end stuff for last 15 mins.
The ball was intercepted in one of the Newry attacks by a Portadown defender and his pass found his team Mate in the Newry circle, he beat his man and slammed a reverse shot hard and low to a helpless Collum's stretched right foot 2-3 with 7 mins to go.
Newry threw everything at them and had several chances to square the match but with a wonder save from their keeper to stop Davy Hogg from getting his second and McCafferty seeing his well Struck short cannon back off the post It just wasn't meant to be.
Team: Collum, A. Marks, A. McMinn, R. Cartmill, A. Baird, S. McCafferty, R. McMinn, M. McCaigue, D. Liggett, D. Hogg, P. English, G. Alerdice, P. Moffett, S. Graham.
Next week see Newry Travel to Portadown were they hope to take back the 3 points and make honours even.
