Write a commentNewry 1's 0-1 South Antrim 1's
N. Dinsmore, N. McKnight, R. Nummy, N. Liggett, N. Davenport, C. Henning, C. McKnight, J. Taylor, J. Greer, R. Irwin, K. McCombe, P. English, S. Mccafferty, K. McWilliams
This fixture had all the markings of a great battle between two teams pushing for promotion, both realising that nothing less than a win would do. However it seemed that one of the umpires present wanted to be more involved than both sets of players in a shambolic and disgraceful display of umpiring. Unfortunately the match was dead in the water with only minutes gone. Newry flew out of the traps and attacked South straight away but within 5 minutes they found them selves down to ten men with the first of many dire and biased decisions against the home side. Even with ten men knew were running South Antrim ragged and should have been one up when the ball was stopped intentionally and illegally on the line by an Antrim player resulting in a penalty stroke being awarded, and the player not even receiving a talking to by the umpire. Richard Nummy normally cool in these types of situations could only hit the post with his effort.
Newry were getting next to no decisions in even the most obvious of fouls and a number of times had the decision turned against them for taking the free out of position. South Antrim won a short corner on a break and clinically slotted home a brilliant flick to take the lead.
The home side found themselves down to nine men soon after, the game then took an even stranger turn with Newry playing out the duration of the sin bin for the players of the pitch in their own half with the ball being passed around their defence under no pressure from South Antrim which seemed be a bit of fair play from the Antrim side who could see Newry where being undeservedly punished.
The second half continued in the same fashion as the first, South did not have one single attempt on target during the whole half, Newry where camped inside the South Antrim half. Chance after chance went begging for Newry with attempts being cleared off the line or players just not finishing what should have been nailed on goals. Again during this half Newry had players sent off and very strange decisions given against them including short corners being signalled for only for the umpire to reverse and change decisions for no apparent reasons. South Antrim were dogged in defence and held on to their one nil win and move closer to promotion.
Newry 2's 3-2 Kilkeel 2's
S. Henry, D. Hogg, A. Henning, J. Lawson, D. Barlow, B. Scott (c), D. Liggett, D. England, K. McWilliams, M. McGrath, A. Foster Subs: S. McCafferty, N. McGuffin, P. English
Derby Delight for Super Seconds
Newry Olympic Seconds put in an excellent display at the Belfast Road on Friday night to beat high flying Kilkeel Seconds 3-2 in this hard but fair derby encounter. The Kilkeel men came into this fixture sitting fourth in the Junior One Table while Newry had slipped into the bottom two relegation places. On the reverse fixture Newry hadn’t done themselves justice putting in their worst performance of the season and they started here keen to make amends for that.
The Newry midfield of Scott, Liggett and England and front line of McWilliams, McGrath and Foster took the game by the scruff of the neck early on, defending from the front and taking the attack to Kilkeel at every opportunity. Newry were playing good hockey out from the back with a good mixture of aerials from Hogg and interplay with Henning, Lawson and Barlow keeping the Mourne men guessing. Kilkeel struggled to stamp their authority on the game as Newry met them much higher up the pitch and showed organisation and strength in the challenge.
It was Newry who opened the scoring with the prolific McWilliams finishing off a sweeping move from one end of the pitch to the other. The second goal was a fine individual effort from Newry substitute McCafferty who dribbled, hassled, barged and jinked his way through no less than four Kilkeel men on the before showing great composure to produce a quality finish into the far corner. Newry were good value for their lead but Kilkeel kept pushing and brought themselves back into the game with a goal right at the end of the first half.
Newry looked to impose a high tempo once again in the second half but with legs tiring Kilkeel had more of the play and Newry responded by introducing McGuffin and English to freshen things up. It was against the run of play when Kilkeel got their chance for an equaliser as a scramble after a save from Newry keeper Henry saw a penalty stroke awarded. Henry was unlucky, guessing the right way but beaten by inches high to his right.
With the game now in the balance both teams attacked with Newry pressing and Kilkeel dangerous on the counter. Ironically it was a counter from Newry that proved to be decisive as Hogg picked up the ball from deep and moved up the field before finding McWilliams to slot home the winner and bag his now traditional brace.
Newry will look at this as three excellent points, perhaps crucial in their bid to avoid relegation, and as an exorcism of the terrible performance earlier in the season against the Mourne outfit. Next week sees another tough encounter and another derby as Newry travel to top of the table Banbridge Seconds.
Newry 3's 4-0 Mossley 6's
Newry hosted Mossley 6's in their penultimate game of the season. Having slipped up last week against Lisnagarvey nothing less than a win would do them today as they pushed to win the Junior 5 title.
Newry got off to a great start, dominating position and finding the net early through top goalscorer Jonny McWilliams from a well worked shirt corner. South Antrim started to find their footing and managed to get a few shots at Newry keeper Elmore who kept them out with ease.
Mc Williams found the net again just before the break, walking through the Mosley defence and getting the shot off on goal.
Coming out in the second half, Newry quickly took control and continued to dominate play and again found the net early on through Lee Irvine who slotted in substitute England's ball across the Mosley net.
Mosley could only find penetration through the Newry defence on a very rare occasion but could not trouble the keeper.
Through another substitution, Newry found the net again just before the final whistle through right winger Clint Elliot. This was his second goal in two games, showing signs that there is plenty more to come from the young winger.
In their last league game of the season, Newry will travel to south Antrim where a win will secure them the junior 5 title.
