Newry Hockey Notes 4th March 2013

Tickets are still available for Newry Olympic Hockey Club's  Annual Presentation Dinner on April 27th in Canal Court Hotel.  Tickets available in the club, from any committee member or contact Jeremy on 07706227391

Newry 2’s 1-4 Annadale 2’s

Seconds lose - relegation battle too close to call

“Newry Seconds were beaten 4-1 by third placed Belfast outfit Annadale in the late match at the Belfast road on Saturday afternoon.” Those are the facts and the visitors deserved their victory but the three goal margin was a reflection on a lack of efficiency in front of goal more than the overall performance from Newry. 

Annadale sprung out of the traps early on, pressing Newry deeper and deeper into their own half. They took a 2 goal league before Newry had really settled and it looked like it could be a long day at the office for the Belfast Road men. The goals and a lot of the better Annadale chances came from a tactical ploy which the better teams in this league have been using a lot and which Newry need to learn to counteract and perhaps use themselves. The opposition right back pushes high, forcing the Newry left winger deep, the opposition centre backs then split with the right centre back attacking the space vacated by the Newry left winger. With Newry employing a man marking system this then leaves the remaining Newry forwards to either track back or leave the defence exposed – neither an attractive option. 

Newry did get through some good attacking play in the first half and McWilliams pulled a couple of good balls across the penalty spot that were begging to be finished, while England fizzed a couple of dangerous balls across the area. The Newry goal came through birthday boy Mark McGrath – celebrating the big four-o and showing that all of his experience with a cheeky delicate finish. 

The second half is where the real frustration took hold for Newry as they pressed the visitors hard and created chances but just couldn’t find the backboard. The Annadale third and fourth goals came with Newry pressing on for what could have been a crucial point and but for Henry in the Newry goal there could have been more. However to come away from this match having only scored one from the chances created was a bitter pill for Newry to swallow. 

Looking to the league table Newry have one tough game to play, the reverse of this fixture, and sit on with 17 points, while Raphoe (13 points) and Mossley 3 (14 points) have 5 to play with Civil Service and Mossley 2 both have 15 points and 4 to play. All the teams below Newry have tough fixtures ahead and several play each other – with 2 going down it really is too tight to call at this stage. 

Team: S. Henry, D. Hogg, D. Lawson, J. Lawson, D Barlow, B. Scott, D. Liggett, W. Adams (c) , D. England, J. McWilliams, M. McGrath Subs: N. McGuffin, S. Blakely 

Armagh 1’s 0-7 Newry 1’s

Armagh has had a torrid season this year and are rock bottom of Senior 1, so this should have been an easy win for Newry.  This was the case and from the very first whistle Newry dominated the play and possession with Armagh not even having an attempt at the Newry goal in the whole 70 Minutes.  First on the score sheet was Kyle McCombe when he deflected in a cross from David England.  Newry wasted a hateful of chances after the opening goal to further their lead, hitting the post on a number of occasions and Scott Blakely guilty of missing two nail on goals which both would be contenders for miss of the season.  David England then got Newrys second with a nice finish from tight on the by line, at half time the score was two nil Newry but it should have been much more.

Again Newry dominated in the second half although denied by the post on another couple of occasions they started to take their chances scoring five.  John Taylor got on the score sheet twice with Richard Nummy also scoring a brace.  Kyle McCombe got his second also to give Newry a resounding 7-0 win which could have been a lot more if the finishing was up to standard from the Newry side. 

Team: N. Dinsmore, N. Davenport, N. McKnight, P. English, R. Nummy, D. England, J. Greer, J. Taylor, K. McCombe, R. Irwin, B. Scott, S. Blakley