Newry City secured another valuable three points in their quest for promotion on Friday evening with a very comfortable victory against Richhill at the Newry Showgrounds. Indeed this was a match which was virtually over as a contest after only four minutes with any thoughts of a surprise result having been ruled out by two early home goals which set the scene for a comfortable victory.

The match got off to the very best possible start for Newry with one of the fastest goals ever scored at the Showgrounds. It was Richhill who kicked off and immediately played the ball to Jeff Richardson at left back. Mark Patton who is at the top of his game at the moment, having been awarded the Newry player of the month for March before the game, hurried Richardson into a poor clearance which was intercepted by Sean Hand. Hand made some ground before playing a pass into the path of Patton who got the reward for his early industry as without breaking stride he deflected the ball into the corner of the Richhill net to put his side into the lead after only 13 seconds.

Early chances kept coming Newrys way with Gary McVicker forcing Gary McCoo into a fine save with a drive from thirty yards and then Patton came close with a headed effort from the resultant corner. The home fans did not have to wait long for goal number two. Chris McMahon rose highest to win a Richhill kick out, his header falling to Shane Lundy. Lundy played the ball to the feet of Patton who returned the compliment as Lundy continued his run into the box before placing his shot into the far corner of McCoo’s net for goal number two.

Richhill gradually edged into the game and Newry had Niall Crilly and Peter Murphy in turn to thank for maintaining the lead, first Crilly with a goal line clearance with 10 minutes gone and then it was Peter Murphy’s turn quickly off his line to block a close range attempt on goal.

The home side weathered this phase in play and stretched their lead on 20 minutes when Jimmy Walker swung a corner in from the left and with a mixture of Newrys Joel Annett and a Richhill defender jumping in front of him McCoo missed with his attempted fisted clearance, the ball missing everyone else and sailed into the back of the Richhill net for a Walker goal to put Newry 3-0 up.

Even though they were 3 goals to the good it was not until the 25^th minute that Newry started to play the passing football which has seen them dominate so many games this season. From a move which started on the right with passing between Hand, Patton and Crilly before the point of the attack was switched to the left wing where McMahon and Lundy combined giving McVicker the chance to pick out Patton with a cross to the back post, the Newry striker unfortunate to see his header back across goal miss the far post for what would have been a picture goal. Unfortunate on this occasion Patton really should have had his second and Newry’s fourth goal on forty minutes. Again he was involved in the build this time with Hand combining to release Neil Barr inside the Richhill box. Barr unselfishly squared the ball across the goal line leaving Patton with the simple task of tapping home only for the Newry striker to take his eye off the ball at the crucial moment leaving the ball to roll harmlessly wide.

Patton made amends for this miss straight after half time. Again it was a Walker corner which brought the danger to the Richhill net as Paul McElroy rose highest to meet his cross with a powerful header which was blocked on the goal line with Patton the first to react pouncing onto the rebound and driving the loose ball to the net for his second goal of the night.

Patton’s hat trick goal which came on 55 minutes to put Newry 5-0 up was perhaps the best of his three. McMahon won the ball inside his own half and immediately dissected the Richhill defence with a long through ball which Patton ran onto now with a clear run on goal. Full of confidence Patton took his time forcing McCoo to dive to his left before slipping his shot into the centre of the goal for a hat trick which along with his involvement in just about every Newry attack sealed his Man of the Match award.

Newry captain McMahon delivered an equally incisive ball on 66 minutes which completely took the Richhill defence out of the game and left the recently introduced Mark Lowry with a chance to score, Lowry most unfortunate to see his lobbed effort beat the keeper but to then bounce on the six yard line and over the cross bar.

McMahon was winning all the tackles in midfield and on 68 minutes he made good use of more ball which he himself had won, again beating the Richhill defence with a long pass this time releasing Barr wide on Newrys right wing with clear sight of goal. With time to compose himself Barr took his time before curling a beautiful left foot shot into the far top corner of the Richhill net for goal number six.

Richhill continued to compete and got a little reward for their spirit when Brent Murray latched onto a loose ball inside the Newry penalty area on 75 minutes and hit a dipping half volley which gave Murphy little chance as it went into the Newry net clipping the underside of the cross bar on the way.

Newry were not to be outdone on any front on the evening however and had the last word on the goal scoring chart when Lowry, who had been unlucky with a few previous efforts was on hand to nod a rebound into the net after the Richhill keeper had been unable to hold on to a Barr effort from the edge of the box leaving the final score 7-1.

Newry manager Darren Mullen was delighted with his team’s performance “We could not have wished for a better start scoring, albeit fortunately in the very first minute. From then on we were the dominant team and kept imposing our high tempo pressing game on Richhill. To score seven goals is always pleasing and it leaves us in a great position to gain promotion. We can also win the league by winning another two games but all we are concentrating on is the next match against Bourneview Young Men on Thursday night. Hopefully we get another big crowd down to the Showgrounds and get a win that can set us up for Saturday.”

Newry City AFC: Murphy, McVicker, Crilly, Annett, McElroy, Hand, McMahon, Walker, Lundy, Barr, Patton (Man of the Match) Subs: Lowry, McCaul, Edgar, Mooney, Martin, Campbell.

Newry City’s next game is at home to Bourneview on Thursday 24^th April kick off 19.30 at the Newry Showgrounds. Newry are then away to Richhill on Saturday 26^th April with a 14:15 kick off. Newry City travel club bus will leave the Stonebridge at 13:15hrs.

Cover photo courtesy of Brendan Monaghan.

Friday night at the Showgrounds sees another vital league match for City against 10th place Richhill. Newry currently look strong contenders for the league title though Darren Mullen’s men are taking nothing for granted and will be fighting for every point as if it was their first.

NCAFC are pleased to announce that Destination Newry TV will be recording this important league match and showing full deferred coverage of the match after the game. Once again we will have our excellent commentator, fan Mo Ruddy, this time joined by fellow fan and influential local Sports Reporter, Gareth McCullough.

There will also be a fundraising quiz after the game, www.newrycityafc.co.uk/?p=3095

Newry City AFC moved a step closer to winning the Mid Ulster Intermediate B league title at the first time of asking with a victory over rivals Valley Rangers in Kilkeel on Tuesday evening.

Played high up in the Mourne’s this game had lost some of its edge with Valley losing their preceding two league games meaning that a game which up until recently looked likely to be a title decider ultimately turned out to be a routine victory for the Newry side as they march relentlessly towards the title.

That’s not to say that the home side did not have their chances with Newry having their Man of the Match Peter Murphy to thank for some important saves. The first of these was perhaps the most critical when after 14 minutes he advanced quickly from his goal line to snuff out a Valley chance. The importance of this save quickly became evident as his team mates immediately swept the ball up field to grab the lead which they never relinquished.

As so often with Newry goals this season Mark Patton was involved laying Chris McMahons pass back to David Anderson who drove his shot from the corner of the box across Richard Baillie in the Valley nets and inside the far post to put Newry 1-0 up. Newry continued to press and almost doubled their advantage after 24 minutes when neat passing between McMahon, Patton and Jimmy Walker gave McMahon a sight of goal, the Newry man’s shot crashing into the Valley side netting. The home side responded with a good opportunity of their own David McMurray breaking down the Newry left and forcing another splendid save from Murphy at his near post to preserve the Newry advantage at half time.

The second half was only minutes old when Newry again threatened. With a free kick in a dangerous position some thirty yards from the Valley goal Sean Hand feigned to shoot but instead passed to Walker, closer to goal but with a worse angle, the Newry midfield maestro fizzing his shot wide of the post. The reprieve was to be only temporary as Newry did double their advantage on 53 minutes. Patton won the ball with his back to goal half way inside the Valley half. In an instant the Newry striker turned his defender and slipped a clever pass forward to Walker who in turn made ground before finding Neil Barr lurking on the right side of the home penalty area. Barr looked up and picked out Hand arriving at the back post, Hand sliding to finish to the far corner of the home net to put Newry 2-0 up.

Although down by two goals the home side were not out of the game. On 75 minutes McMurray again threatened floating in a left wing cross come shot which Paul McElroy had to head from under his own cross bar and from the resulting corner Thomas Graham fired in a shot which Murphy did well to get his body behind and hold on to.

Newry finished off any hope which the home side harboured with goal number three on 82 minutes. Hand picked up the ball inside his own half and skipped down the left wing before finding Shane Lundy. Lundy played the ball square to Walker who from the edge of the box cut the defence with one pass which Mark Lowry’s pace got him to before the Valley defender who could do little but bundle the Newry attacker over giving referee Gerry Murray no option but to award a penalty which Walker side footed home to leave the final score 3-0 for Newry.

Delighted with the win Newry manager Darren Mullen spoke after the game, ‘We knew this was going to be one of our toughest challenges to date against one of the main promotion rivals. This proved to be the case on a pitch not suited to our normal passing game. They had a few decent chances after we scored our first goal but our defence was outstanding for the remainder of the game allowing us to punish Valley on the break. This was a big win for us but we still have seven games to go and the players are aware that all the remaining teams need to be treated with the utmost respect. If our attitude and application is right then hopefully the rewards will come”

Newrys next game is at home on Friday 18^th April @ 19:30hrs v Richill. There will be a fundraising quiz following the game starting at 9.45pm, all are welcome to come along and join in on the fun!

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Crilly, McVicker, McElroy, Annett, McMahon, Walker, Hand, Anderson, Patton, Barr, Subs: McCaul, Lowry, Lundy, McLarty, Martin.

Today’s game away to Broomhedge has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Incredibly this is the fourth time this season that a scheduled game for Newry at Broomhedge has been postponed. Though don’t forget, on Tuesday 8th April, Newry travel to play Valley Rangers in a crucial top of the table clash (kick off 6.30pm). The Travel Club is running a bus to the game against Valley, which will leave the Stonebridge at 5.15 pm.

Also, Newry City AFC Reserves will be playing at The Showgrounds tomorrow v Annagh 2.15 K.O!