Write a commentSouth Antrim 1’s 2-6 Newry 1’s
Newry travelled to Friends High School, Lisburn to take on South Antrim in their second game of the new year. The Belfast Road side flew out of the blocks pinning South Antrim back and were soon in the lead with Colin McKnight firing home with only five minutes gone. The lead was doubled only a matter of minutes later when John Taylor won the ball in the centre of the pitch and found Jeremy Greer who squared the ball across to McKnight for this second.
The away side then seemed to take the foot off the peddle content with possession without any real cutting edge. This allowed South to get back into the game with a quick counter attack resulting in a simple tap in at the back post.
The home side started the better of the two sides on the second half but were unable to get the equaliser before McKnight finished off his hat-trick with a well-placed short corner.
Newry scored with a lightening quick counter attack of their own with keeper Francis Mcgivern cut out a cross passing the ball to Taylor in the centre of the park who found Kyle McCombe who then smartly played the ball to Keith McWilliams at the back post to score the goal of the game with only three passes from keeper to goal scorer.
Newry made a number of changes with sub Adam Foster making a smart run on the blind side of the South defence, and was picked out brilliantly with a long reverse stick pass from Taylor. Foster slowed the keeper up and nonchalantly slipped the ball between his legs into the goal. David Andrews was the other changed and not to be out done, got Newry’s sixth again with a clever nutmeg.
South Antrim got a late consolation goal to finish off the scoring and give Newry a deserved 6-2 victory. Newry host Portadown at home on Friday evening at 7.30pm, with all support welcome.
Team: F. McGivern, C. Henning, D. England, A. Baird, N. McKnight, J. Taylor, N. Davenport, R. Irwin, C. McKnight, J. Greer, K. McWilliams, K. McCombe, D. Andrews, A. Foster
