Newry City AFC moved into the third round of the Irish Cup on Saturday with a comprehensive defeat of fellow Mid Ulster Intermediate B side Richhill on Saturday. This was a game which Newry dominated from the start their first good chance coming after only four minutes when a low drive from the edge of the box by Jimmy Walker, after he had received a short free kick from John Smyth, was deflected over the home sides bar with only inches to spare. Chances came and went for almost the rest of the half for Newry with the Richhill net seemingly leading a charmed life.

On nine minutes the Newry midfield of Chris McMahon, Graeme Edgar and Jimmy Walker combined in a passing movement to release Mark Lowry inside the box, his shot beating both the keeper and the post to fly wide. Lowry was again involved in the next chance five minutes later when he chased a long clearance from the Newry keeper Shane McCoy to force a corner. Ever alert to a quick pass Smyth played the corner short to Niall Crilly who shot on goal only for his effort to again be deflected over the home bar for a another corner. This time Smyth’s cross bounced around the box until Conor McCaul managed to get a clear shot, alas off target. Right back Crilly was enjoying lots of freedom on the Newry wing and he linked up with McMahon on 24 minutes to force another Smyth corner. This time Smyth drove the ball low and hard across the face of the goal somehow missing everyone and going out for a home throw in.

The Richhill dam eventually burst on 40 minutes when Edgar released Smyth with a quick throw in over the head of home defence Smyth winning yet another corner this time on the Newry left. The corner taken Walker evaded the Richhill defenders and found Smyth who nodded home at the far post to put Newry 1-0 up. Perhaps momentarily content that their domination had been turned into a lead Newry were caught cold almost immediately when a Richhill corner was not properly cleared and a snapshot from the edge of a crowded Newry box with McCoy unsighted meant that the keeper could only deflect the shot onto the inside of the post, the rebound just about crossing the goal line before McCoy could get his hands to it.

Newry regained the lead immediately after the restart and again Crilly and McMahon were at the heart of the move.  Crilly picked the ball up deep in his own half and found McMahon on the right side of midfield. McMahon immediately drilled a low cross field pass to Smyth who had perfectly timed his left wing run from deep allowing him to smash a first time shot into the Richhill net to regain the Newry one goal advantage.  This time there was no way back for Richhill as Newry piled the pressure on continually creating goal chances.  On the hour mark Crilly who was having a super game released McMahon with a clear sight of goal. When his shot from outside the area was flapped at by the home keeper McMahon was first onto the rebound and was unlucky to have his effort blocked for a corner. 

On 67 minutes a sweeping attack started deep in his own half by Edgar was almost finished by the same player. Releasing Neil Barr Edgar kept pace as Barr made ground down the right wing and was on hand to collect his cross on the edge of the box forcing the Richhill keeper into a fine save low to his left.   Newry were now totally on top combining at will with neat passing movements.  On 70 minutes Edgar and McCaul released David Anderson wide on the left. Anderson cut inside and travelled infield before playing a reverse pass to Peter Thompson who’s shot was charged down by the home defence.

With 15 minutes left Smyth, McMahon and Walker linked up in a passing movement which again released Thompson for a shot which this time was saved by the home keeper. Minutes later a similar attack between Walker McMahon and Lowry found Smyth in space at the far post and when his hat trick seemed likely he could only find the side netting with his shot. However his third goal was not long in coming. Lowry showed great determination chasing down on the home defence and when he forced the defender into a mistake Smyth quickly collected the now loose ball and made a few yards forward before blasting the ball high into the roof of the Richhill net for Newry’s third and final goal and his hat trick.

This was a fine team performance from Newry. Shane McCoy in nets was a very able deputy for the unavailable Murphy, in defence McCaul, Annett and later McElroy won everything that came their way whilst Crilly and Anderson where often the starting point for Newry attacks. The midfield of Edgar, McMahon, Walker and Larkin were responsible for many crisp passing movements whilst Lowry, Barr and Thompson worked hard up front. However the premiere display was that of Man of the Match John Smyth who provided the goals to win the game.

Next up for City is an away match v Broomedge in the league on Saturday 19th October. The NCAFC Travel Bus will be departing the Stonebridge at 1pm Sharp. All are welcome!

Newry City AFC Team: Shane McCoy, Niall Crilly, David Anderson, Joel Annett, Conor McCaul, Jimmy Walker (Larkin), Graeme Edgar (McElroy) Chris McMahon, Neil Barr (Thompson), Mark Lowry, John Smyth Subs: Peter Thompson, Paul McElroy,  Lonnie Larkin, Stefan Martin.

Pictures: Brendan Monaghan

Newry City delivered that elusive win under the floodlights in front of another big crowd at the Showgrounds on Friday night. This was the third Friday match of the season under the lights and on the previous occasions the home side had failed to deliver. However on Friday led by another storming display from captain Chris McMahon, Newry took sole possession of the league’s top spot thanks to a 3-1 win against Valley Rangers.

The foundation for the win came from goals either side of half time. The first which came after 35 minutes was the result of hard work from Chris McMahon. When John Smyth lobbed a high and hopeful ball into the centre of the Rangers half there seemed to be little threat with both central defenders in position to clear. However McMahon sensed a little hesitation and bore down on the clearance which he charged down, his endeavour rewarded as the ball rebounded into his path thirty yards from goal. With great composure McMahon took time to look up and lob the ball over the advancing Valley Rangers keeper Richard Baillie, the ball bouncing into the net to put Newry 1-0 up. Prior to this the game had been end to end but with little in the way of clear goal chances and the home side would have been content to go in at half time with that single goal lead.

Newry took a firm grip of the game straight after the break and McMahon was again involved winning a throw in deep in the Rangers half. Niall Crilly took the throw and found Neil Barr inside the Rangers box with his back to goal. Barr was unlucky to see his overhead kick hit the cross bar but fortunately for Newry John Smyth was the first to latch onto the rebound and he blasted home from close range to put Newry 2-0 up.

The same two players created and scored Newry’s third and best goal of the night soon after. Smyth, at his best beating defenders and whipping in crosses did just that on the 50^th minute when he skipped down the Newry left wing and swung in a left footed cross from the by line which was met by a perfectly timed run from Barr who headed the ball back in the direction it came and into the top corner of the Valley net to put Newry 3-0 up.

At this stage Newry were threatening to put the game totally beyond Valley. Crilly who was a consistent attacking threat from right back for Newry was cynically taken down on the edge of the Valley Rangers penalty area. With Smyth over the ball and everyone waiting on a direct shot he chose to pass the ball to the unmarked McMahon inside the box. With the home crowd expecting number four Baillie advanced from his line to narrow the angle and make an excellent save blocking the ball for a corner. McMahons chance was bettered by that which fell to Mark Patton from the resultant Jimmy Walker corner, the inrushing Patton rising highest to thunder his headed effort against the crossbar and rebounding to safety. 

Valley Rangers got a lifeline on 67 minutes when a free kick from the right was headed back across the Newry box to Stuart Patterson who drove his shot past Peter Murphy in the home goal to make the score 3-1. Rangers kept pressing and had a further chance with 15 minutes left when a left wing cross was met by the head of Richard Graham at the back post which forced Murphy into a fine save as he rose to pluck the ball out of the air as it sailed towards the top corner of the net.

Newry introduced the lively Mark Lowry at this stage and he almost had an immediate impact. David Anderson and Smyth combined on the left wing and found Lowry in space in the box. In an unusual sequence of events Lowry had three chances to score in the same attack. His first effort was blocked by the keeper and when the rebound fell back to Lowry’s feet he was twice denied by blocks from Valley defenders.

With five minutes left Valley forced Murphy to produce another great save when he palmed a fierce drive over the cross bar after the ball had bounced around the Newry box without being dealt with by the home defence.

The final chance of the match was Newry’s when Smyth played another short free to Walker inside the box, Baillie again quickly of his line to block the shot.

This win which returns Newry to the top of the league was fully merited from start to finish. The home side enjoyed top performances from the usual suspects McMahon and Crilly but the Man of the Match performance came from Neil Barr who made the crucial second goal and scored the third and best goal of the night.

City now look forward to travelling away to Richill in the Second Round of the Irish Cup on Saturday 12th October. The travel club bus will be leaving at 12:30 Sharp from the Stone Bridge, all are welcome.

Newry City AFC: Peter Murphy, Niall Crilly, David Anderson, Joel Annett, Conor McCaul, James Walker, Graeme Edgar (Hand), Chris McMahon, Neil Barr, Mark Patton (Lowry), John Smyth (Larkin). Subs: Mark Lowry, Peter Thompson, Lonnie Larkin, Sean Hand, Shane Lundy, Stefan Martin.

Valley Rangers: Richard Baillie, Raymond Hanna, Alan Henning, Stuart Patterson, Gary McKee, Kenny Graham, Andy McMath, Thomas Graham, Richard Graham, David McMurray, Andrew McCoy. Subs: Ryan Stevenson, Ryan McMurray, Steven Annett, Andrew Irvine, Philip Johnstone.

Photos: Brendan Monaghan