Write a commentNewry Olympic Ladies 3–v-1 Donaghadee Ladies.
On Saturday 21st November 2015, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played Donaghadee Ladies 1st XI at home at 2.30 p.m in the Ulster Hockey Senior 3 league.
Newry won the toss and chose sides, playing from the Newry home side on the first half.
Donaghadee were on the attack from the whistle but Newry Ladies held their side, even at times under extreme pressure. After ten minutes Diane McMinn–Johnston played the ball across the top of the circle from the right hand side and found a number of Newry mids in the circle. The ball was crossed to Shannen Robinson who slipped the ball past the Donaghadee goalie putting Newry into the lead. Donaghadee fought back hard and were awarded numerous corners but Laura Simpson kept the ball out of the Newry net with endless saves. Newry were pleased to hold a one all lead at the half-time whistle.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong with Newry being awarded several short corners in the first ten minutes of the second half and left-mid Laura Girvan found the back of the Donaghadee net securing a two him lead. Donaghadee retaliated by fighting back hard and drove the ball up into the Newry circle and secured a goal by just slipping the ball to the left of the Newry goalie.
Newry seemed to settle better as Donaghadee began to tire and around the twenty minute point the ball was again fed up from the Newry defence to right mid Aimee Magowan who drove the ball up the right hand side of the pitch into the circle. The ball was passed around the circle between both Donaghadee and Newry players but eventually found Shannen Robinson right in front of the Donaghadee goalie and once again she slipped it into the Donaghadee net for Newry’s third goal
Final score Newry Olympic 3 Donaghadee 1
Team: Laura Simpson Laverne Inns (Captain), Shelley Pearson, Aimee Magowan, Suzy Rollins, Anna Bingham, Diane Mc Minn-Johnston, Kathryn Baird, Laura Girvan, Shannen Robinson, Alison Gamble, Avril Harpur, Gayle Davidson and Naomi Dickson.
Newry Olympic Ladies practice is Wednesday from 7.00 – 9.00 p.m. at Newry High School (weather pending) and are always happy to receive new players. They are registered with Quick Hockey Ireland if any ladies wish to come along for a bit of fun and fitness
Portrush 2s 4-2 Newry 3s
Newry made the long journey to Portrush on Saturday with a weakened team. Portrush started strongly pushing through the Newry defence to score a goal in the first minute. This lead was short lived as Newry pressed back straight away with Andrew Marks getting forward with great effect before firing in a low hard shot which was saved by the keeper, only for the rebound to be picked up by James Niblock who slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 1-1. In a very open game both teams continued went in search of the next goal with Portrush again taking the lead.
Newry continued to press for another equaliser, winning a short corner just before half time. Andrew Marks was again heavily involved in the goal as he passed the ball to Phillip Moffett who from a narrow angle found the back of the net. Score at half time 2-2. Both teams pressed for more goals both coming close but Portrush would score first, 3-2. Newry succumbed to lack of numbers with Moffett and McCullough both picking up injuries but continued to play, Moffett coming close to equalise but could not. Portrush got a breakaway attack which produced another goal putting the game out of reach. Final score 4-2.
Team: J Porter E Graham J Lawson A Collum Mark McCullough M McCaigue P Moffett J Niblock A Marks Michael McCullough J Cowan
Newry 2’s 4-5 Annadale 2’s
Newry 2’s were again involved in a thriller which would have warmed anyone up watching on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon. Newry got off to a flyer catching the visitors off guard when Keith McWilliams got his first of the game with a low flick from a short corner. It should have been two only a matter of minutes later when McWilliams managed to hit both post with a reverse shot, but somehow the ball managed to stay out. Annadale started to play their way back into the game when they got into their stride were really causing Newry problems in defence.
With three quick fire goals in 5 first half minutes, the home side were reeling and Annadale were cruising. Newry managed to get another one When Greer played the ball into Adam Foster who swivelled quickly and placed a perfectly hit reverse shot into the bottom corner past a stretching keeper. The home side now had their tails up and managed to score on the stroke of half time with McCafferty scoring for his fourth game a row and bring both sides in even at half time.
The Second half went much the way as the first with Annadale looking menacing on the attack but unable to find a way through until they got a debatable short corner which they duly slotted home. Newry won their own short corner only a minute later with McWilliams getting is second with a high flick this time. It looked like the game was going to played out a draw until A Annadale counter attack led two a late winner with only one minute left. The visitors ran out 5-4 winners in this enthralling match.
Team: S. Henry, J. Greer, D. Hogg, A. Baird, A. Megaw, K. McWilliams, A. Foster, P. English, W. Adams, A. McMinn, S. McCarfferty, D. Liggett
