Write a commentNewry 1’s 1-4 Annadale 1’s
Newry hosted Annadale on Saturday after a late pitch inspection. The league leaders fielded a strong side containing Irish internationals.
It was the visitors who started the better of the two sides as Newry struggled to cope with their movement off the ball in the early stages. ‘Dale were soon a goal to the good as they scored their first short corner of the game. Newry came back strongly and were very unlucky not to level the game when a well worked short corner found Robert Irwin who deflected the ball goal wards only to see it bounce off the outside of the keepers pads who seemed to now know much about the save. ‘Dale showed Newry how to be clinical in front of goal as they scored their second short corner. However the home side were frustrating the league leaders and were creating a number of opportunities to get back into the game but lack of composure in the circle was their downfall.
In the second half Newry started to push further forward but were unlucky in the final third as decisions were going in favour of the big guns of ‘Dale. Annadale’s third came in scruffy fashion as a miss hit cross bounced over a number of sticks but was deflected before Newry keeper porter could clear. Newry pulled one straight back with a great move down the right hand side, which saw David Hogg pick the ball up on the 25yard line before firing the ball into the circle for Colin McKnight to deflect the ball in. Newry continued to push forward in hope of getting something from the game but ‘Dale out it to bed with their third short corner goal of the game. The match finished 1-4 however the score line does not reflect the game as the home side pushed ‘Dale all the way.
Team: J. Porter, C. Henning, D. England, N. Liggett, N. Davenport, N. McKnight, R. Irwin, C. McKnight, K. McWilliams, M. McCullough, D. Hogg, J. Greer, A. Megaw, K. McCombe
Portadown 3’s 5-3 Newry 2’s
Portadown hosted Newry 2’s on Saturday in the late 4pm push back at Edenvilla. Newry dominated much of the first half and went one up midway through when Simon McCafferty thumped home their first short corner. It was soon two after a great passing move involving Eddie Graham and Alan McMinn who found Phillip Moffett and with a drop of the shoulder he rounded the keeper and slotted home with a defender closing him down. Portadown pulled one back with the last move of the half to leave the score 2-1 at the break.
Portadown were bright in the second half as their fitness told over the full 70 minutes. They were running rampant really terrorising the Newry defence. The home side were pushing the visitors back as they struggled to get out of their own half. Portadown flew into the lead as they scored four goals unanswered. Newry did manage to get a late consolation goal through Andrew Baird but it was too little too late with the match ending 5-3 in the favour of Portadown.
Team: A.Collum, A. Marks, S. McCafferty, S. Graham, P. Moffett, E. Graham, P. English, R. McMinn, M. McCaigue, A. Baird A. McMinn, M. McCullough
