Write a commentNewry Olympics 1 Donaghadee 1
On Saturday 5th March 2016, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI travelled away Bangor Grammar school in order to play the Donaghadee 1st XI Ladies in the Senior 3 Ulster Hockey league.
Newry drove the ball forward straight into the Donaghadee circle from the start but the strong Donaghadee defence fought back and fired the ball straight back into the Newry side and were the first team to be awarded a corner.
The Donaghadee team failed to score from the first shot but found the back of the Newry net on the rebound. Newry played hard in order to secure a number of corners as well and at times the game became heated on both sides. Newry were awarded a fifth corner ten minutes before the end of the second half and following a fast injection by right back player Diane McMinn-Johnston, the centre mid Lynn Anderson shot straight towards the bottom left corner of the goal, only to have the sweeper save the ball. On the rebound left mid player Laura Girvan caught the ball in the air and shot the ball straight into the Donaghadee net.
Newry kept the pressure on with sweeper Laura Simpson feeding the ball through to centre back player, Gayle Davidson who switched the ball to the right hand side of the pitch allowing right mid Lynne Ervine to play the ball through to Laverne Inns who won another corner at the thirty minute mark. Laverne Inns shot right through the goalie's feet into the back of the net but the goal was disallowed due to being shot on the circle line.
The Donaghadee team also had another couple of corners before half time but failed to gain the upper hand. Just before the half-time whistle right mid Kathryn Baird fed the ball through to right wing Shannen Robinson who again played hard through the Donaghadee defence and shot straight from the top of the circle but the keeper saved it keeping the score one all.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong, battling for every pass but neither side conceding any goals. Again Newry displayed some lovely play from the left back Avril Harpur who unfortunately had to come off the pitch after ten minutes due to a dangerous lifted ball injuring her knee.
The Newry mids and forwards kept possession of the ball for the majority of the second half and forward Vasso Steele constantly put the Donaghadee goalie under pressure. At full time the score remained one all with Player of the match going to Laura Girvan.
Newry will play Saintfield at home this Friday 11th March at 8p.m. which will be their last Senior 3 League match followed by a Plate match at home against Dungannon on Saturday 19th March.
Newry Ladies would like to thank their Sponsors Canal Court for their tracksuits and BMW David Prentice for their main playing tops during 2015/6.
Final score Newry Olympics 1 Donaghadee 1
Team - Gilly Rooney, Laverne Inns (Captain), Laura Simpson, Lynn Anderson, Vasso Steele, Shannen Robinson, Diane McMinn-Johnston, Lynne Ervine, Kathryn Baird, Gayle Davidson, Laura Girvan and Avril Harpur.
Newry 3s 6-1 Cliftonville 2s
Newry hosted Cliftonville 2s at the weekend.
From the start of the match Newry went on the attack with a couple of near misses. Newry would take the lead quickly though with a goal coming from McCaigue who I'm quick succession doubled his scoring tally on the day scoring a second from a short corner. The score 2-0 Newry continued to press in order to find a 3rd. The Newry defence went first half largely untroubled apart from a breakaway chance by Cliftonville that was broken down by Alderdice. The half would finish 3-0 with Marks finding himself free allowing him to beat the Cliftonville keeper.
Cliftonville started the second half on offensive pressing the Newry defence which held out with a number of saves by Henry in goals.
Newry would extend their lead with English driving into the circle and getting his shot away for what was a certain goal only for Moffett to steal the goal by touching the ball before it crossed the line. Cliftonville would then get a goal of their own by a momentary lapse of concentration on Newry defence. Newry would extend their lead to 5-1 through another goal from Moffett who would find the bottom corner from a shot at a narrow angle. The final goal coming from English who took the ball in the circle and scoring a reversed shot, that was hit low and hard.
Final score 6-1.
Team: S Henry E Graham P English R Cartmill G Alderdice D Liggett A Foster M McCaigue P Moffett A Marks J Cowan J Niblock A Collum G Moffett J Lawson
Newry 1’s 4-5 North Down 1’s
Newry threw away a great chance to guarantee their premier league place for next season. Before the game began the home side knew how dangerous the visitors were from short corners, however, this was exactly how North took the lead with only 5 minutes gone. Newry quickly got back on level terms with Keith McWilliams flicking the ball high into the net after a short corner routine had broken down.
Newry were their own worst enemies as Greer gifted the ball to North Down from a hit out and they took full advantage to go two one up. The visitors did not sit back and made it three just on the stroke of half time to leave Newry in a lot of trouble.
The Belfast road men shout a lot of fight in the second half as they came storming out with Colin McKnight making it three two with only one minute gone in the half. They were back on level terms only a matter of minutes later when Adam Foster came off the bench and had an easy tap in after a great mazy run from Kyle McCombe.
Newry were now flying and they took the lead after a wonder goal from David England who stepped forward from sweeper to take the ball around three North Down defenders and from the left hand side of the circle, fired home an absolute rocket of a reverse. A goal worthy of winning any game. Newry wasted a hatful of chances to extend their lead, and they lived to regret this. With 7 minutes left North Down scored a soft equaliser while Newry were down to ten men. North then made it five and clinched the game with a reverse of their own to take away all three points.
Newry had only themselves to blame for throwing away the game after such a good fight back in the second half.
Team: F. McGivern, N. McKnight, C. Henning, D. England, J. Greer, R. Irwin, J. Taylor, D. Liggett, K. McCombe, M. McCullough, A. Foster, K. McWilliams, A. Baird, C. McKnight
