A comprehensive win for Newry City to cement their place in the top half of the table pre-the April split came courtesy of a half dozen goals the pick of which was goal number five, a wonder strike from Decky Carville which flew into the top corner of the Tobermore net. However, while goals win games, in this league Newry have quickly learnt that they must first win the right to score and on Saturday Newry’s fortune was set by solid displays from a quartet of players, John Boyle, Ian Curran, Kevin McArdle and Mark Patton, all of whom turned in flawless displays to set the foundation for what in the end turned out a routine win.

That was not however how the game started, Tobermore first out of the blocks, Nicky Hudson rising highest to head a corner over the Newry crossbar followed by an important intervention from Boyle stretching to head a cross ball for a corner with two Tobermore forwards ready to pounce. Newry soon created chances for themselves, Thomas McCann sweeping play wide to Decky Carville, his cross testing the aerial ability of Timmy Grant who did well to skim the crossbar. Newry were gradually getting on top and with 12 minutes gone they tested Matthew McGraw for the first time, Patton nodding the ball down to Keith Johnston who tried his luck from the edge of the box, the Tobermore keeper parrying the ball to safety.

Newry grabbed the opening goal after 17 minutes. After winning possession short of midfield McCann fed the ball wide to Johnston, the winger delaying the return ball long enough for McCann to make his way into the box to bravely challenge for the cross, McGraw able only to block McCann’s header onto Conor Kearns who inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net to put Newry a goal ahead. McCann didn’t have to wait long for a goal of his own to cap his Man of the Match display. With 20 minutes on the clock Carville won possession on the left wing before quickly finding the feet of Timmy Grant, his first-time ball into the penalty area won in a tackle by McCann who quickly regained his feet before calmly placing the ball past McGraw to double the Newry advantage.

The game was all but over as a contest on the half hour mark with a goal made by Newry keeper Kieran Gordon and scored by Keith Johnston. With Tobermore on the attack Gordon found himself isolated against Tobermore striker Nicky Hudson, Gordon using his frame to guard the net before pinching the ball clean from Hudson’s feet. In a flash Gordon turned defence into attack with a long kick out which Johnston judged better than Tobermore’s central defender Kearns, the Newry man timing his run perfectly to latch on to the bouncing ball and place a half volley into the bottom corner of the Tobermore net to put Newry 3-0 up, a score line which remained until the half time whistle.

It took Newry five minutes into the second half to add to the score line and when it came it was a classic centre half’s goal, Mark Hughes delivering a corner to the penalty spot, Ian Curran capping another solid display with a powerful downward header which gave McGraw little chance. It was now a case of how many goals Newry could rack up and they had a great chance for number five on the hour mark, Patton switching play from right to left with a beautiful curling ball straight to the feet of Carville on the edge of the box, the centre forward then leaving his marker for dead as he took the ball to the end line before trying to find the run of Sean McMullan, McMullan denied by a last ditch tackle to deflect the ball for a corner.

The 68^th minute saw a contender for goal of the season. Starting with McArdle at the half way line he rolled the ball forward to Marty Havern who in turn set the ball back perfectly for McArdle to sweep a curling ball picking out Carville on the edge of the penalty area. Carville’s first touch was to control the ball on his chest, the second a volley on the turn which flew into the top corner of the Tobermore net despite the despairing dive from McGraw for a picture goal.

The 80^th minute brought a late sting for Newry, Tobermore’s right back Shannon Crooks venturing forward found himself with a shooting opportunity inside the Newry box, his effort partially blocked by Gordon but not enough to stop the balls path towards goal, Stephen McCabe covering behind Gordon instinctively scooping the ball from the goal line with his hand which gave referee Mark Dillon little option but to brandish a straight red card at the Newry left back. With a spot kick duly awarded it was left to Tobermore’s Glen Law to grab a consolation goal which he did despite the best effort of Gordon. A little rejuvenated by this Tobermore immediately had a great chance for a second, a long ball over the top finally beating the Newry defence, Gordon producing a fine stop to deny Peter Duffin.

Having awarded a penalty at the away end referee Dillon was given a chance to balance the books on 85 minutes when Carville set up McMullan with a shooting chance. When the big man’s effort was only parried out by the Tobermore keeper, Newry’s birthday boy Thomas McCann was the first to react to the loose ball only to be barged off it by Kearns, Dillon without hesitation correctly pointing straight to the spot. With McMullan on the field that means only one thing and the Newry striker once more delivered sending McGraw the wrong way to round off a 6-1 win for Newry which satisfied Newry manager Darren Mullen who as usual wasn’t looking any further forward than the next game “This turned out to be a comfortable win for us but only because we maintained the same effort from the Dundela game. We know the ability is there within the squad, it’s just how we apply ourselves that will determine how well we perform. Thankfully we started the game well and put them on the back foot. We have pace throughout the team and when Kevin and Giggsy are running at teams right from our back line it creates plenty of chances.

When we have players running from deep the way Tucker did then it makes life difficult for them to defend and he took his chances well. The fact we are disappointed with conceding also shows how much the players value keeping a clean sheet. That said it’s another good win for us and with 9 games to go we are starting to look strong. However, we never get ahead of ourselves and know for sure that next week’s game against Sport and Leisure will again be a tough battle.

Newry’s next game is next Saturday 18^th March away to Sport and Leisure Swifts, KO 3pm. Newry City travel club bus will leave The Stonebridge at 1:15pm.

Match Day Mascots Sean Lennon & Jake Smyth

Highlights courtesy of Ally McKenzie & Tommy Harris NCAFC TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oW1fDJf95s

NML Football Photographs https://www.facebook.com/pg/NMLSport/photos/?tab=album&album_id=770066819817029

Newry City AFC: Gordon, McCabe, McArdle, Boyle, Curran, Patton, McCann, Grant, Carville, Johnston, Hughes. Subs: McMullan, Havern, McMahon, McCaul, Taylor.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jACIA4TPTfU

Tobermore Utd: McGraw, Crooks, Harkness, Keane, Kearns, Marks, Gillan, Law, Hudson, Flanagan, Duffin. Subs: Stewart, Darragh, Hunter, Winton.

An unbelievable opening four minutes during which they grabbed three goals sealed the points for Newry City at The Showgrounds against in form Dundela. The scene was set in the opening minute when a clever ball inside the Dundela left back found Kevin McArdle in space deep inside the penalty area, McArdle feigning to cross before beating Alan Blaney at his near post from an acute angle.

The home support were still celebrating the opening goal when Newry doubled the advantage, Grant again involved picking out the run of Keith Johnston, Johnston continuing into the penalty area before switching the ball across the box to Mark Hughes who wasted no time blasting a high shot past Blaney in the Dundela net.

Incredibly the home side made it three with less than four minutes on the clock, Decky Carville wining the ball inside the Dundela half, Johnston once more the provider switching play to Hughes on the left wing, the Newry captain bearing down on goal before calmly shooting back across Blaney into the far corner of the Dundela net. And it could have been four for Newry after ten minutes with the roles reversed, Hughes swinging a low cross into the Dundela box into the path of Johnston who tried his luck with an instinctive first time shot, Blaney on top this time blocking with his legs.

Obviously rattled by Newry’s opening blitz it took the visitors until the 20^th minute before they troubled the Newry keeper, Jamie Jackson crossing for Matthew Burrows to head on goal, Kieran Gordon making a comfortable save.

Spurred by this Dundela created a flurry of half chances, Jackson firing a shot over the crossbar when set up by Ben Roy. On the half hour mark Gordon was called into action again, quickly off his line to deflect a Burrows effort for a corner. The half ended with two good chances for Newry, Grant out pacing the Dundela defence to make room on the right wing before squaring the ball for Hughes who was unfortunate to see his shot go the wrong side of the Dundela post. And the half closed with a glorious chance for Newry to wrap up the points, Grants through ball giving Thomas McCann a one on one with Blaney, the keeper using all his experience to steal the ball at McCann’s feet.

Dundela introduced Mark McClelland at the break and the big man brought an immediate aerial threat to the Newry goal which paid dividends on the hour mark, McClelland heading a crossed ball down to Burrows at the back post, the striker finishing from close range.

Any lingering hope of a Dundela come back was extinguished five minutes later when Newry restored the three-goal lead with a route one goal, Gordons long clearance won by Carville who with a glancing header released Johnston for a run on goal, Johnston making ground before blasting a high shot past Blaney for an empathic finish.

On 70 minutes Carville almost claimed Newry’s fifth goal, picked out at the back post by a pin point cross from Ian Curran, Carville controlled the ball on his chest before attempting an audacious lob unfortunate to see his effort bounce off the cross bar. With time running out the final chance of the day fell to the visitors, a ricochet around midfield saw the ball spring into the Newry half giving Burrows a free run on goal, Gordon alert to the danger quickly off his line to save.

After the game Newry manager Darren Mullen was obviously satisfied with his teams’ efforts “There were some harsh words before the game due to the inconsistent nature of how the players have applied themselves this season. The defeat against Newington was disappointing so we needed a reaction and that’s exactly what happened. To score three goals in the first four minutes at any level doesn’t happen too often so to do it against a good side in Dundela makes it even more special. They couldn’t cope with our pace and movement and we really should have been more than three up at half time. Kevin McArdle was rightly named man of the match but I thought the whole team was superb from start to finish. The second half was a tighter affair but we never looked in danger of losing the game and it was a really good win for us. With ten games to go we are in a good position but yesterday’s performance has set a high bench mark and one that we cannot afford to fall below if we are to get anything out of this season”

Newry now wait two weeks for their next competitive fixture, a home league match against Tobermore on March 11^th. Newry City Reserves who are well placed to win the Mid Ulster Reserve league have an important league fixture at The Showgrounds next Saturday 4^th March against local side Valley Rangers. KO 2.15pm.

Match Highlights courtesy of NCAFC TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsiSXcNdah8&feature=youtu.be

Many thanks to Match Day Mascots Charlotte & Amy O’Hare who definitely brought the boys luck!! We hope to see you both back at The Showgrounds soon.

Newry City AFC Team: Kieran Gordon, Kevin McArdle, Stephen McCabe, Patrick Mooney, John Boyle, Thomas McCann, Marcus McKeown, Timmy Grant, Declan Carville, Keith Johnston, Mark Hughes. Subs: Ian Curran, Sean McMullan, James Walker, Mark Patton, Marty Havern.

Dundela Team: Alan Blayney, Scott Collins, Curtis Brown, Stephen McCain, Lewis Roy, Ben Murdock, Jamie Jackson, Karl Devine, Matthew Burrows, Ben Roy, David McMaster. Subs: James Sofley, Matthew Ferguson, Jordan Morrison, Gary Irwin, Mark McClelland.

Match photographs courtesy of NML Football.com Full album of photos available: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NMLSport/photos/?tab=album&album_id=762862530537458

Newry Manager Darren Mullen commented on Graemes departure, “Graeme is a player that we will all be sad to see leave the club. He has been there right from the very start of our revival and has played his part in our return to Irish league football.

Like his father and grandfather before him he always gave nothing less than 100% when playing in a Newry jersey. No matter what position I played him in he did it without fuss or complaint and has been a model professional in terms of his attitude and commitment. We wish him well in the remainder of his football career and he will always be very welcome back at The Showgrounds.”