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Newry 1’s 6-1 South Antrim
Newry hosted forth placed South Antrim on Saturday hoping to take advantage of the fact Portadown were playing in a cup game to leap frog them into second place with a win. Newry had face South Antrim earlier in the season and after a stuttering start which seen them two goals down early on to eventually come away with the spoils. Newry did not let this happen this time as they flew out of the traps playing a high paced passing game, and pressing South Antrim high up the pitch. It was from one of these presses that new won the ball and pushed forward to win a short corner. Veteran Richard Nummy rifled home a low shot from the edge of the circle to put Newry ahead. It was soon two when Nummy turned provider as he drifted in from the left in a move than seen all three forwards link brilliantly in the circle passing the ball between each other before Robert Irwin got space at the back post to slot the ball home. Newry kept pressing and Kyle McCombe made it three with a great finish from the centre of the D.
Newry seemed to stutter after racing into this lead which let South Antrim back into the game as they started to create a few opportunities of their own but could not find a goal before half time.
Newry were slow to start in the second half and it took a while to get back to their passing game. As they slowly got a hold of the game again John Taylor fired home the forth to effectively end the game as a contest with 25 minutes still to play. It could have been five soon after when Robert Irwin laid the chance on a plate for Kyle McCombe who swung and miss when it looked easier to score. Keith McWilliams got the fifth not long after coming on as a sub as he fired home after another great passing move from the forwards this time coming from the left flank.
Golden Oldie Robin Hanlon pulled off a great stretching reverse stick save to keep South Antrim out but he was soon beaten when a sliced shot looped over the keeper and trickled into the bottom corner to give south a consolation goal. There was still time for Newry to make it six when right back Jeremy Greer bust forward and drove long the byline to lay the ball into McWilliams who got his second of the game and give Newry the win. Newry host top five side Bangor next Saturday hoping to keep their great start to the season going.
Team: R. Hanlon, N. McKnight, N. Davenport, D. England, J. Greer, C. Henning, J. Taylor, A. Gilmer, R. Irwin, K. McCombe, R. Nummy, K. McWilliams, D. Andrews, N. Liggett
Newry 3’s 6-2 Mossley 4’s
After the long anticipated wait at the Belfast Rd, the game finally got under way 30 mins later than scheduled!
Newry where slow to start and very lacks-a-daisy in their approach play, tending to run and dribble with the ball. Instead of their usual quick, fast flowing hockey. And it wasn't too long before this had caught Newry out with Mossley's first attack of the game after 13mins. A run down the left and a hard hit to Petey Elmore's back post was going wide only for K.Best to stop the ball, allowing the attacker to nip in and slot home for the Visitor's. This was the wake-up call needed for Newry and it took only a matter of minutes before they where straight back in it. With a well driven attack down the right hand side and the ball landing to the ever impressive Mark McCullough to slot into the Mossley net. Newry where still cautious as Mossley where very quick on the break and tested the defence of K.Best, Ian McNeill, Phily Moffett and David Sterritt., but this was to no avail, as whatever got past McNeill they may aswell have hit a brick wall as there was just no getting past the 'Tower of Strength' in Sterritt.
And just before the break Newry where awarded another SC. The first strike came from McWilliams and the keeper saved. But when the ball came to Sterritt on the edge of the circle, he used his wand to great effect when a bullet of a reverse stick shot near went through the net. Making it 2-1 Newry just before the break.
Second half turned out to be alot more Newry, with the goals soon to come. It wasnt to long before it they where 6 in front. Goals coming from Ally McMinn, Stephen Garvey, Jonny Mcwilliams, and Glyn Elias. Mossley did get a late consolation.
Team: Peter Elmore, P.Moffett, K.Best, D.Sterritt, I.McNeill, A.McMinn, S.Garvey, D.Lawson, M.McCullough, J.McWilliams, M.McCaigue, M. McCullough, G.Elias, J.Best
Mossley 2’s 3-1 Newry 2’s
Henry, Baird, Lawson, Gregg, Barlow, McCafferty, Hull, T.Henry, Scott, Foster, Blakley, Dickson.
Newry made the long journey to Mossley with a slightly depleted squad however they were boosted by playmaking midfielder Simon McCafferty passing a late fitness test.
The intrepid band of youth and experience settled well with Scott Blakely having Newry’s first shot on target. Newry were pressing really well and the midfield of McCafferty, Connor, Adams and Scott were feeding the hard running forwards Adam Foster and Scott Blakely.
It was no surprise when Mossley went ahead with an opportunist goal, the forward flicking into the goal from mid circle. This early blow seemed to galvanise the Reds who went on to dominate the remainder of the half and were rewarded when Adam Foster’s mishit shot somehow found its way into the bottom corner. The defence of Barlow, Baird, Lawson and Gregg were providing a great platform for the team to play snuffing out any chances Mossley tried to create.
Half time Mossley 1- 1 Newry
Newry started the second half the way they left off in the first, pushing Mossley back into their own half and creating chances. However it was Mossley who went ahead ten minutes in and against the run of play, the ball broke to a forward who cracked it home giving Sam Henry in goal no chance.
Newry continued to press and were unlucky not to draw level on several occasions with the ball flashing across the Mossley circle when only a touch was needed. Mossley wrapped up the win with a breakaway goal with 5 minutes to go again the forward again giving Sam Henry no chance.
Newry continued to pressure Mossley but were unable to get themselves back into the game.
Enniskillen Ladies 1-2 Newry Ladies
On Saturday, 30th November, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI travelled all the way to Irvinestown to play Enniskillen Ladies 1st XI in second round of the Intermediate Cup. Newry were awarded pass back and were on the attack, dominating play for the majority of the first half. Newry were awarded corner after corner but due to the excellent skills of the Enniskillen keeper, no goals came. Twenty-five minutes into the first half Enniskillen were lucky on a break and scored putting them into the lead. However Newry kept their heads up, continued to battle on and at the 33rd minute point, after some lovely play across the forward line, Caralyn Ferris equalised, During the final minute, the three forwards, Laverne Inns, Aimee Magowan and Kathryn Baird broke free taking the ball passed the Enniskillen mids and defence and as they entered the circle the Enniskillen blew time with fourteen seconds to spare which was disappointing for the Newry team.
Newry came out strong for the second half and were awarded another four consecutive corners thanks to pressure from the midfield players. During the fourth corner, Laura Girvan injected the ball to Laverne Inns who hit the ball towards the bottom left corner for Laura to defect the ball into the back of the net putting Newry into the lead. As the whistle blew, Newry were now the only team in Senior 4 league to head into the Quarter finals.
Team: NOHC Team C Waddell, D L Inns (Captain), C Gamble, N Burns, N Shields, L Ervine, C Ferris, L Simpson, A Magowan, G Davidson, L Girvan and K Baird.
