Write a commentNewry 1’s: 2- Campbellians 1’s: 3
Newry blew any slim chances of promotion on Saturday at home to Campbellians of Belfast. The home side had a sluggish start and only really played in fits and starts in the first half but still found themselves having the better of the clear cut opportunities. A flurry late in the half seen Newry score two goals in quick succession, first through Colin McKnight from a short corner and then Richard Nummy who was on hand to slot home a rebounded shot.
In the second period Newry had much of the play but it has been a story of their season that when needed their finishing has let them down, chance after chance went begging and they were unable to put the game to bed. As the game wore on Campbellians started to pick Newry off on the counter attack and they did what Newry couldn’t do, the away side were clinical in front of goal. Three fast moving counter attacks, and slack defending cost Newry the win and rounded off a great comeback for Campbellians.
Team:
N. Dinsmore, N. Liggett, N. McKnight, R. Nummy, P. English, J. Greer, J. Taylor, C. McKnight, R. Irwin, K. McCombe, D. England, N. Davenport
South Antrim 3’s: 3 Newry 3’s: 1
Newry faced South Antrim in their final league game of the season.
With both teams facing the chance of promotion, this was a must win game for both sides to secure their places in junior 4.
Newry began the first half defensive, man marking the South Antrim players and keeping their attacks at bay. Both teams had their fair share of possession and chances, however neither were able to find the net before the half time whistle.
Following a good first half performance, Newry continued trying for a goal, but slipped up, allowing South Antrim to pick up 2 goals in close succession. The first came from an unmarked South Antrim forward in the Newry D who deflected the ball past keeper Elmore and the second from a shot that took a deflection off a Newry defenders foot.
With 15 minutes remaining and 2 down, Newry went offensive, which paid off through centre forward Jonny McWilliams, who scored through a short corner.
Unfortunately, South Antrim kept out Newry’s advances, and with only minutes remaining on the clock, they were unable to equalize with the game finishing 2-1.
Newry remain top of their league and will have to wait another week for other teams results to determine if they are league winners or if they will have to play another game in a first place playoff.
Team:
P Elmore, A McGaffin, A Baird, K Best, E Graham, S Garvey, J Niblock, D Lawson, L Irvine, J McWilliams, G Elias, M McCague, S Blakely
Newry Olympic Ladies: 0 Ballynahinch Ladies: 3
On Saturday, 23rd February, Newry Olympic Hockey Ladies 1st XI played Ballynahinch1st XI Ladies at home. From the whistle, Ballynahinch were on the attack scoring 1 goal within the first fifteen minutes. Newry had a couple of chances with forwards one on one with the goalie but were unable to finish.
At the beginning of the second half both teams came out strong with Newry being awarded two short corners in the first ten minutes of the second half but were unable to score due to the Ballynahinch keeper doing some fine saves. Ballynahinch battled back putting Newry Defence under a lot of pressure and sealed the match with two further goals making the final score Newry Olympics 1 Ballynahinch 3
Team H Kee L Inns A Gamble, C Gamble, D Mc Minn, T Mc Ilroy, K Baird, J Cochrane, A Blakely, N Shields, A Magowan, L Girvan, C Waddell.
Newry 2’s: 3 NICS 3’s: 3
Draw for seconds – but is it enough?
Newry Seconds position in Junior One for next season could have been all but secured with a win against Civil Service Seconds on Friday night at the Belfast Road but a scrappy performance and a three all draw leaves their fate hanging in the balance as any 2 from Newry, Mossley 2nds, Mossley 3rds, Raphoe, Civil Service and possibly even Lisnagarvey 3rds could go down. Newry currently have the points on the board but with all other teams having multiple games in hand it really is a hard league to call this year.
In the first half Newry were very sluggish and struggled to put any meaningful periods of possession together, frequently looking like a team of individuals instead of the cohesive outfit unit that we have seen recently. Frustrations with umpiring, a lack of flow in their play and a struggle to bring the forwards into the game left Newry camped deep in their own territory and then struggling to move up the pitch when they had the ball. The pressure told and Service pushed their sweeper through to good effect on several occasions and on the balance of play probably deserved their 2 nil lead at half time.
Newry switched sweeper with centre forward at half time as D. Hogg moved forward with English dropping into the defence. That change and the introduction of Taylor and Greer saw Newry much improved as the passes started to find their men and Service were brought under increasing pressure. A Newry goal was coming and the breakthrough came through a cross from Greer which Fletcher latched onto and slotted home over the top of the advancing keeper. Newry had short corners throughout the second half but the Service defence were out quickly and while Newry had shots they either found the keeper or went wide. However when one broke back to England he spotted the keeper on the ground and was the coolest man on the pitch when he lifted the ball into the far top corner. 2 all and game on as both teams pushed hard with all to play for. Service had Newry pinned in their left back area before J. Greer took control and under heavy pressure beat 2 Service forwards before slotting the ball to Scott who swivelled and found Taylor, a short carry and ball to the left wing found Hogg who drove toward the D before crossing to Fletcher, giving the advancing keeper the eyes Fletcher fed the ball back to Hogg who finished well at the ball post. This was probably the best team goal from Newry this season with the ball travelling from one end of the pitch to the other in a few seconds.
Unfortunately for Newry there was to be a sting in the tail and with only 2 minutes remaining Service equalised amid Newry protests at a quick free that had been moved on 10 yards for knocking the ball away – Newry were incensed as this was the only example of this rule being employed in the game despite several identical incidents going unpunished for both sides. The protests continued long beyond the final whistle but the impact will only be known when the dust settles on the league table at the end of the season.
Team:
S Henry, D Hogg, A Henning, D England, D Barlow, B Scott, D Liggett, W Adams (c), C. Fletcher, M. McGrath, P. English Subs: R. Taylor, J. Greer, K. Dowds
