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Newry 1's 3-1 PSNI 1's
Newry hosted PSNI on Saturday hot on the heels over their Linden Cup triumph over Portadown on New Year's Day. This was a potential banana skin ahead of the important fixture away to Portadown next Saturday.
Newry from the start dominated possession with the away side content with just getting the ball as far away from their goal as possible when they could. Newry continually threatened the PSNI goal but were unable to beat their inspired keeper. With 20 minutes gone Robert Irwin eventually broke the dead lock when he was able to round the keeper after neat play in side the circle. Soon After Kyle McCombe finished a well worked short corner to give the home side a two goal advantage and nothing more than they deserved going in at the break.
Again Newry threw everything at the PSNI goal in the second half but could not add to their score but their defence held firm until John Taylor fired home another short corner with 10 minutes to go. With their first meaningful attack the PSNI won a short corner which was dispatched for a late consolation goal.
Newry next travel to Portadown in a top of the table clash which will go a long way to decided the final positions of the top 3 teams.
Team: R. Hanlon, N. Davenport, N. Liggett, N. McKnight, C. Henning, J. Taylor, C. McKnight, D. England, R. Irwin, K. McCombe, A. Gilmer
Newry 3's 1-1 Instonians 4's
Newry hosted league leaders Instonians on Saturday in their first game after the Christmas break. There was no sign of the break taking effect on the home side as they had much of the play in the first half with both Jonny McWilliams and Alan McMinn having good chance to put Newry ahead but were unable to convert. Newry were then caught on the counter attack by Instonians who went in at the break one up against the run of play.
Newry were lucky after the break when Instonians had a goal disallowed but they took heart from this as they surged forward with Keith McWilliams getting the equaliser. Even with constant pressure near the end Newry could not find the all important second goal but would have taken a draw if offered before the first whistle.
Team: P. Elmore, C. Rooney, A. McGaffin, I. McNeil, D. Sterritt, S. Garvey, A. McMinn, P. Moffett, J. McWilliams, M. McCaigue, M. McCullough, K. McWilliams, G. Elias
Banbridge 2’s 2-1 Newry 2’s
Newry travelled to Banbridge for the local derby which seen the Newry mean come from three down to salvage a point in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Banbridge were boosted by a number of first eleven players dropping to the seconds to add a bit more quality to the ranks. However it was Newry who started the better of the two teams with the back for of Scott, Gregg, Lawson and Barlow being mainly spectators in the opening exchanges. New took advantage of their quick start when Keith McWilliams fired home a short corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
The Ban men soon settled the ship and got into a rhythm which seen them fire home two short corners in quick succession after a long spell of possession. Newry managed to get to grips with this free flowing hockey and had a chance of their own just before half time however David Andrews could only fire wide from the top of the circle.
In the second half Ban continued with their great possession hockey as Newry adopted a more direct but equally effective approach with both sides having chance. Sam Henry was in nets for Newry and was equal to everything that the home side could through at him. As the game wore on Newry through caution to the wind but could not find the elusive equaliser. The Belfast Road men were unlucky to come up against such a strong Banbridge seconds side and were perhaps unlucky not to come away with a point.
Team: Henry, Gregg, Scott, J. Lawson, Barlow, Foster, McCafferty, Andrews, Adams, K McWilliams, Blakely. Subs: D. Liggett, Baird, McGuffin
