There were few grumbles amongst the Newry support as Bangor left The Showgrounds with a deserved 3-1 win after Saturdays match. That sentiment however related only to the destination of the points and not to the display of the home side who for the majority of the game got nowhere near the high standard that the Newry faithful have come to expect. Credit for that however must go to Bangor who looked the hungrier side throughout and to their striker Dwaine Beattie who grabbed an excellent hat trick.

The game opened with an early chance for the visitors, Dale Patton finding room inside the Newry box foiled by Peter Murphy who was quickly off his line to snuff out the threat. In reply Newry created a succession of chances. First Sean McMullan flicked a throw in into the path of Mark McCabe who stepped inside his marker before shooting for the far post, his effort touched around the post by the diving Darren Gibbons. Gibbons soon produced a repeat performance, Mark Hughes crossing for McMullan who headed back across goal, Gibbons once more pushing the ball around the post. At this stage the home side looked the more likely to score and almost took the lead on 23 minutes, Hughes again crossing from the right, this time Mark Patton unable to get his header on target.

The opening goal did come minutes later, Greg McCabe swinging a pin point ball into the box, McMullan once more getting his headed effort on target. This time Gibbons could only block the striker’s effort, Marty Havern the first to react to the loose ball to finish from close range. That was as good as it got for Newry as the lead did not last long, Bangor immediately replying with a move which swept the ball from defence to attack in an instant making the most of some poor Newry defending culminating with Beattie arriving at the back post to level the scores.

Newry got an early warning of the Bangor intent straight after the break, Jordan Lucas causing havoc on the right wing before drilling in a low shot which was cleared off the line by some last ditch defending from Neil Mullen. The warning was not heeded as Lucas created the opening for Bangor’s second goal with almost an hour played, once more making the most of some poor defensive play before drilling a dangerous ball across the face of the Newry goal, Beattie nipping in front of the Newry players to poke the ball home. It could have got worse for Newry were it not for Mullen once more sweeping up on the goal line to prevent goal number three.

It wasn’t all one way traffic and the home side had chances of their own not to mention at least one very valid claim for hand ball inside the box which were not spotted by the officials. However, try as they might the elusive equalizer refused to come from the opportunities Newry created. On 65 minutes Mark Patton who worked hard all day won a battle for the ball near the end line before crossing for Declan Carville who could only find Gibbons with his headed effort. On 80 minutes it was the turn of Patton to try his luck with a header from a Hughes corner, the big man unable to find the target from close range. And the Newry crowd knew it was not to be when another Hughes cross was punched out by Gibbons as far as Thomas McCann, his low shot destined for the bottom corner tipped onto the post by Gibbons for a fine save.

With time running out Newry’s Greg McCabe gave the referee little choice but to issue a straight red card for a crude challenge on Bangor’s Gerard McMullan. And with almost the last kick of the game Bangor sealed the points and Beattie his hat trick from the penalty spot, after Peter Murphy clipped the same player as he tried to go around the Newry keeper, to leave the final score 3-1 to Bangor.

A result which obviously gave Newry manager Darren Mullen cause for concern “It was a very disappointing game not just because of the result but we didn’t do ourselves justice with a poor performance. After we took the lead we needed to keep our shape to consolidate that lead but made basic errors to let them back into it straight away. We had chances to add to that goal but overall we didn’t do enough to win the game and can’t complain with the result. Bangor are a decent side who are organised and are quick on the break but we are a lot better than we showed today.

“We had five players missing today but it’s up to the other players in the squad to step up and unfortunately too many didn’t perform. As a group we will take responsibility for the performance and work hard in training to make sure we learn from it. We didn’t get too carried away with the good start we’ve made to the season and we certainly won’t dwell on this result but we need to pick ourselves up very quickly. This is a very tough league but one that we are well fit for and next week’s game against Lisburn Distillery can’t come quick enough.’

Newry’s next game is on Saturday 10^th December at home to Lisburn Distillery, KO 3pm.

Newry City AFC Team: Murphy, G McCabe, King, Mooney, Mullen, Patton, Hughes, Carville, McMullan, Havern, M McCabe. Subs: Johnston, Edgar, McMahon, McCaul & McCann.

Bangor FC Team: Gibbons, G Beattie, Calvert, Long, Mugrew, Justin, Lucas, Armstrong, Patton, D Beattie, McMullan. Subs: Knipe, Craig, McArthur, Fitzimmons, McGrath.

Newry City AFC’S rearranged Bob Radcliffe Cup Semi Final against Coagh scheduled for Tuesday 6th December by the Mid Ulster Football Association will not take place that night. As yet no new date has been confirmed. Newry have received no official communication from the MUFA saying why the match will not take place on December 6th.

Check out Newry City Manager Darren Mullens interview on QRadio prior to the Bob Radcliffe Cup Semi Final v Coagh at the Showgrounds on Friday night!! 25/11/16 KO 7.45pm.

Newry City turned what the Irish FA had selected as the tie of the 2^nd round in the Intermediate Cup into a one-sided affair with a comprehensive win over high flying Ballymena United Reserves at The Showgrounds on Saturday. The game saw the return to the starting line-up of last seasons leading scorer Sean McMullan and the big man made the most of the opportunity bagging four quality goals in a 5-0 win. Another who grabbed the chance to enhance his rising reputation was goal keeper Jack Heaney who capped a solid competitive debut with a splendid save from a penalty kick when his side were leading by a solitary goal.

That opening goal for Newry arrived after ten minutes, Conor McCaul turning defence into attack with a centre field run before laying the ball wide to Mark Hughes, Hughes losing his marker before curling a cross into the box for which McMullan rose between Ballymena defenders to power a header into the top corner of the Ballymena net to give Newry an early lead. The visitors were given a lifeline minutes later when the referee ruled that Tyler Wilgaus had been bundled over as he received a throw in to his feet inside the box. With a golden opportunity to change the game up stepped Adam McCracken to drill a low hard shot to Heaney’s right, the Newry keeper diving to divert the ball for a corner with an excellent save. Having dodged the treat of level scores the Newry boys rewarded Heaney’s efforts with a second goal after 20 minutes. Awarded a corner on the right Jimmy Walker created a diversion by showing for a short pass allowing Declan Carville to ghost into the box unmarked, superbly picked out by another Hughes cross Carville headed the ball into the six-yard box where goal predator McMullan stooped to head past Ballymena keeper Tom Hegan for his and Newry’s second goal.

With the Newry defence well on top Ballymena’s chances were dealt a severe blow on the stroke of half time when Fra McCaffrey was shown a straight red card for dissent. And any lingering hopes which the visitors held were virtually extinguished on 48 minutes when Mark Patton won the ball inside his own half before cutting the Ballymena defence with a perfect pass for Walker to pick up in his stride, taking a touch before laying the ball across the face of goal inviting McMullan to time his run at the back post to neatly side foot home for his hat trick.

It was all the home side at this stage. On 50 minutes Havern slipped the ball into the box, McMullan forced wide pulled the ball back to Walker, his curling shot appeared destined for the bottom corner before a diving save from Hagen tipped it onto the post. The chances kept coming as from the corner Carville swept the ball wide to Hughes, he stepped inside before shooting for the same bottom corner once more denied by a combination of Hagen and the goal post.

Hagen was truly keeping the score down. On the hour mark Greg McCabe found McMullan on the half way line, McMullan swivelling to curl the ball forward for Carville to receive as he arrived inside the box before drilling a shot on goal which Hagen somehow deflected over for a corner. The goal chances had to eventually bear fruit and from the resulting corner they did in spectacular fashion. Patton heading the ball down to McMullan who with his back to goal juggled the ball before volleying over his head into the top corner of the Ballymena net for a picture goal. It was a case of how many at this stage, goal number five coming on 70 minutes after Greg McCabe once more made his way forward bringing the ball across the edge of the box before cleverly back heeling to Havern who drilled his shot high into the roof of the net before Hagen had a chance to react. The home side had further chances to add to the goal tally. With ten minute’s remaining Mark McCabe got the better of his man wide on the left taking the ball to the end line before pulling it back to McMullan, his first time shot bringing a spectacular reflex save from Hagen who managed somehow to deflect the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner Walker almost claimed the goal his afternoons effort deserved, taking a short pass from Hughes before creating a shooting angle rapping the ball off the Ballymena crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

However, for Newry manager Darren Mullen a 5-goal haul and a clean sheet was an acceptable outcome “This was a very solid performance from start to finish against a team that has been doing very well this season. We knew they would be good on the ball and full of running so we had to make sure they had no space or time to play. The players carried out our tactics to perfection and only for some terrific saves from their keeper we would have won by more. Jack Heaney had an excellent debut and pulled off a super save from a dubious penalty at a crucial time. At 19 he is a very good prospect and working with Micky Keenan can only make him better. Mully will rightly grab the headlines for his goals and he must be praised for his attitude both on and off the pitch this season which hasn’t been the easiest for him. Overall it was a very pleasing performance and sets up nicely for our cup semi-final this Friday night.’

Newry now turn their attention to Friday nights Bob Radcliffe Cup semi-final against Coagh under the floodlights at The Showgrounds, kick off 7:45pm.

Newry City AFC: Heaney, G McCabe, King, Mooney, McCaul, Patton, Walker, D Carville, McMullan, Havern, Hughes. Subs: M McCabe, Mullen, Edgar, Durnin, Paul Carvill