Newry City were dumped out of the Irish Cup in a foul ridden game at The Showgrounds on Saturday during which the visitors had eight players booked and another sent off along with their assistant manager, a price which the visitors would no doubt accept for a tactic which set about stifling Newry City’s football style from the kick off.

Without creating any clear cut chance’s the early exchanges belonged to the home side, the Newington goal threatened early only when a diagonal ball from Mark Hughes had to be turned wide at the back post by Matthew Reid as Stephen McCabe closed in. With a quarter of an hour gone Newry managed to slip the home defence, once more Hughes delivered the cross for Decky Carville, who had beaten the Newington off side trap, to try his luck from the penalty spot with a headed effort which flew wide of the post with Newington keeper Dean Smyth rooted to the spot.

In reply Newington also had a half chance, Richard Gowdy turning to make room on the edge of the box only to be denied by a late block from Conor McCaul. In a game littered by both petulant and nasty tackles any fluency which Newry looked like bringing to the game was snuffed out by a succession of fouls for which it somehow took to the late stages of the game before a player was dismissed from the pitch.

The visitors opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone. In a heavily congested box there appeared to be no way to goal for Newington until a clever back heel flat footed the Newry defence giving Sean McCauley the chance to toe poke a shot past Peter Murphy.

Newry’s reply was swift. Jordan King with a long pass to the feet of Carville, the big man playing a one two with Marty Havern before cutting back inside his marker and drilling a low shot past Smyth to level the scores. The rest of the half belonged to Newry with King, Hughes and Mark McCabe all showing up well, the later the most unfortunate after he won the ball wide on the left before switching infield and firing in a speculative shot which had Smyth diving to save.

Newington regained the lead early in the second half.  Well placed with a free kick midway inside the Newington half the home side imploded, first by not getting the dead ball into the Newington penalty area and subsequently by getting out numbered in defence, Newington breaking swiftly up the right flank before switching the ball to the back post where Neil Quinn was left with an open goal which he simply could not miss.

Similar to the first half Newry created a super chance straight after conceding, Mark McCabe rising highest to knock the ball down to Carville who was unlucky as the ball bounced high denying him the chance to get power onto his shot which still tested Smyth. The keeper doing well to block the ball to the edge of the box from where Thomas McCann, who had been on the end of several overly robust challenges attempted to guide his shot into the far top corner once more Smyth coming to his teams rescue.

With Newry piling forward in search of an equalizer and Newington seemingly prepared to deny them by whatever means tempers were becoming frayed, matters culminating when the referee ordered Stephen McCabe from the dugout as he reacted to yet another foul in front of the Newry bench.

And as so often happens when a team piles forward in search of an equalizer Newry were caught with a second Newington breakaway goal, Murphy coming much too far off his line in an attempt to act as sweeper exacerbated by blasting his clearance straight at Newington’s Conal Burns who was fortunate to see the loose ball rebound towards the Newry goal leaving him with the simple task of walking the ball into the empty net.

To their credit Newry refused to give up, Smyth forced into a fine save diving full length to get his finger tips to deflect a Hughes free kick onto the cross bar, the ball swirling up in the air to the far post where McCabe’s header was deflected wide for a corner. But in reality the tie was gone for the home team with manager Darren Mullen in philosophical mood after the game “This was a harsh lesson for us and the only positive is that it was in a competition that we were never going to win. I thought the referee lost the game in terms of discipline early on and that set the tone for the rest of the game.

“We were the best team in the first half but in the second became embroiled in seeking retribution for some bad tackles rather than concentrating on our own game. As with every game we need to learn something from it and from today’s we now know that we need to be cuter in dealing with a physical game. It was a really good test which unfortunately we came out the wrong side off but if we can learn from it both individually and as a group then we will be a better team from it.”

 

Newry City Team: Peter Murphy, Neil Mullen, Jordan King, Ian Curran, Conor McCaul, Chris McMahon, Mark Hughes, Thomas McCann, Declan Carville, Marty Havern, Stephen McCabe. Subs: Sean McMullan, Keith Johnston, Mark Patton, Mark McCabe, Padraig Smith.

Newry City now return to league duties travelling next Saturday, 8^th October to play Tobermore. NCAFC Travel Club bus will leave the Stonebridge at 12:30.

Photographs courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.

Newry City secured a semi-final spot in the Bob Radcliffe Cup with a 4-2 win over Mid Ulster opponents Tandragee at The Showgrounds on Saturday. Despite a first half deluge of rain both sides served up an entertaining cup tie and although Newry looked the more likely winners throughout the visitors as always proved to be dogged opponents the tie not safe until Sean McMullan’s late goal.

With a close recent history between the teams Newry would have expected a tough game against Tandragee but apart from a few early feisty tackles, which went unpunished by referee Glen Buchannan, the home side had things much their own way in the opening period, Decky Carville coming close with only minutes on the clock after Mark Hughes switched the direction of play releasing Stephen McCabe down the left wing, his low cross met by Carville at the front post with a first time effort just the wrong side of the post. Newry’s second chance came minutes later, Marty Havern picking the ball up in the middle of the park before driving forward playing two give and goes first with Jimmy Walker, the second with Carville which presented Havern with a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box, unfortunate to pull his shot wide of the far post.

It was all Newry possession at this stage and the opening goal was not long in coming. Once more Havern picked the ball up inside his own half before moving forward, exploiting a gap between two Tandragee midfielders to burst into the opposing half before laying the ball into the box for McCabe to run onto and with the deftest of flicks dink the ball over the advancing Richard McGivern for a super goal.

Despite dominating play it took the home side a further 15 minutes before they created another chance. Once more Hughes was the architect, holding play up outside the box before playing the ball wide to Havern, his cross to the back post nodded wide by Jimmy Walker. Newry doubled their advantage on the half hour mark when Neil Mullen played a superb long cross field pass which was lost in the air by the Tandragee right back, McCabe making the most of the lapse picking out Carville with a low cross which the striker clinically finished past McGivern.

With Tandragee having seen little of the play that appeared to game over but the visitors had other ideas pulling a goal back on 40 minutes when Peter Murphy did well to push a low free kick which skipped off the wet surface wide of the goal only for Chris Mackle to latch onto the rebound and somehow score from an acute angle. The home side had chances to regain the two goal advantage before the break both of which fell to Havern, first a header back across goal which was easily claimed by McGivern and then a blasted shot after being set up by Hughes, once more McGivern came to Tandragees rescue to leave the half time score 2-1 to Newry.

Tandragee had a great chance to level the score soon after play resumed when Johnny Black beat the Newry offside line before closing in on goal only to be denied by a fine reaction block from Murphy. The danger was far from gone as the rebound fell straight to Cecil Corbitt who had the whole goal at his mercy but somehow missed the target screwing his shot wide. Newry were soon to need Murphy again, this time Corbitt beat the offside trap before crossing low across goal finding Mackle arriving into the box, his first time shot requiring a reaction save by the Newry keeper.

Newry were stung into action and came close to goal number three, Carville cutting the visitors defence with a slide rule pass which gave Havern sight of goal, the wee man choosing to go for power only to find McGivern once more in his path to goal. There was nothing McGivern could do with Newrys next chance. Receiving a throw in midway inside the visitors half Walker had time to spot that Hughes had peeled off the Tandragee centre half swinging in a perfect cross which floated over the centre half perfect for Hughes to place his header wide of McGivern to put Newry 3-1 up.

The game was still not won, Tandragee pulling a goal back on 75 minutes after they were awarded a very soft free kick outside the Newry box. The danger appeared to have passed when Aaron Gallagher scuffed his shot into the box but the Newry boys failed to deal with the loose ball which fell to Corbitt who made up for his earlier miss from close range. Although the home goal did not come under any threat for the remainder of the game it took Newry until the late stages to finally kill off their opponents, Carville playing the ball wide for Havern who crossed to inside the six yard box from where McMullan was never going to miss to end the Tandragee challenge to put his team into the semi-final.

 

 

Speaking to Manager Darren Mullen after the game he commented “As per several of our other games not taking our chances makes games more difficult than they should be. We had enough chances to win two games and need to start finishing teams off earlier.

They had a great chance to equalise but we were well worth our victory and can now look forward to a semi-final appearance. The conditions were difficult at times but I thought some of our attacking play was excellent. It’s good to get back to winning ways and there’s a great spirit among the lads so hopefully we can continue to build on our good start to the season.”

Next Saturday (October 1st) NCAFC welcome Newington FC to the Showgrounds in the second round of the Irish Cup, KO 1.30pm. Tickets are still available for our ‘Audience with Dermot Gallagher’ which is taking place next Saturday night. Contact Laura on 07857077176 for tickets & info.

Newry City AFC Team: Peter Murphy, Neil Mullen, Jordan King, Mark Patton, Ian Curran, Thomas McCann, James Walker, Mark Hughes, Declan Carville, Marty Havern, Stephen McCabe. Subs: Sean McMullan, Keith Johnston, Josh Durnin, Padraig Smith, Mark McCabe.

Despite conceding a third minute goal and playing virtually the complete second half with ten men Newry City will still look back on Saturdays score draw against neighbours Banbridge Town as two points dropped rather than a point saved. With both sides probably fielding short of their 1^st choice eleven the visitors got off to the best possible start when Conor McCaul chose to head a high aimless ball into the Newry half back to his keeper only to see his header fall short straight to Conor Downey who calmly lobbed the advancing Peter Murphy to give his side an early lead.

While this early goal advantage was the cue for Banbridge to set up camp inside their own half the home side, despite dominating possession, found it difficult to conjure up many goal scoring chances. On 15 minutes Decky Carville picked the ball up on the half way line before driving through the first line of Banbridge players and playing the ball wide to Keith Johnston, Johnston the centre of a three man Newry attacking line stepping inside and trying his luck from the edge of the penalty area thwarted by Stephen Cairnduff in the visitor’s goal. Minutes later and Johnston was very nearly in on goal, Jimmy Walker dinking a pass over the defence for Johnston to run onto, his first touch letting him down allowing the ball to roll through to Cairnduff.

There followed a period where Newry were forced into lateral passes in the middle of the pitch as Banbridge closed ranks. However the home sides frustration was interrupted on the 36^th minute when Johnstons fleet of foot inside the box forced a rash challenge from a Banbridge defender, referee Barry Monaghan pointing immediately to the penalty spot from where Walker maintained his 100 % record with his 4^th penalty conversion of the season.

Buoyed by this goal Newry piled forward and almost paid the price when the ball broke up field to Downey, he in turn made ground before crossing to Andrew Wilson who’s header back across goal was cleared from the goal line by Chris McMahon who had made ground to cover. Newry had 1 more chance before the half Mark Hughes and Johnston combining on the left wing to give Stephen McCabe a shooting opportunity, Cairnduff quickly off his line to block with his legs to leave the score level at the break.

The home side were straight on the attack as the second half started Neil Mullen finding Mark McCabe with a long pass over the defence, McCabe pulling the ball back for Walker to swing a cross into the box as Carville arrived, his powerful header skimming the crossbar. The home side had an ever better chance moments later when, with Walker about to put a free kick into the box, a Banbridge attempt to catch the Newry players offside went badly wrong leaving a line of home players trying to get on the end of Walkers whipped cross, the ball alas just out of their reach.

On 50 minutes the home side were reduced to ten men when referee Monaghan judged that Mark Hughes had pulled back Wilson as the pair raced for the ball on the Banbridge right wing. Having received a yellow card in the first half this second infringement was deemed enough for referee Monaghan to brandish a second yellow card and so a red to Hughes which should have put his team on the back foot.

However as so often happens the ten men were galvanised with Newry dominating almost the entire second half, Banbridge without a shot in the 2^nd period until the 82^nd minute when Ashley Gregg blasted over Murphy’s bar when well placed. Before that the home side failed to convert many chances the best coming on the hour mark when Walker and McCabe combined on the right wing to carve out a fine chance for Johnston who from five yards out shot straight at Cairnduff who produced a fine reaction save. Although that was the home sides best chance Carville was also unfortunate with a number of chances twice rising highest only to head over and then with time running out finding the Banbridge side netting from an acute angle.

With Newry unable to carve out a second clear scoring chance the visitors were able to run time out to secure the draw much to the frustration of Newry manager Darren Mullen “It feels like a defeat to be honest after playing so well. Considering we went down to 10 men so early in the second half we dominated the whole second half and looked like the only team likely to win the game. We gifted them a goal and didn’t start the game particularly well but once we got into our stride we had them pinned back for most of the game. I can’t fault the players for effort and only for some poor finishing we would have won the game even with 10 men. It shows the progression we have made that we are disappointed with a draw but we have made a very good start to the season and need to keep the unbeaten run going.’

Newry City’s next two games are also at The Showgrounds. First up on Tuesday night, 20^th September Newry entertain Glenavon in the Mid Ulster Cup, KO 7:45 pm. Then on Saturday it’s the turn of Tandragee Rovers to visit The Showgrounds in the quarter final of the Bob Radcliffe cup, KO 2pm.

Newry City: Murphy, McCaul, Hughes, Patton, Mullen, McMahon, walker, Carville, Johnston, S McCabe, M McCabe, Subs: McMullan, Havern, King, Smith, McCann

Banbridge Town: Cairnduff, J Wilson, Acheson, Thompson, Lavery, King, McCartan, Lavery, A Wilson, Moffatt. Subs: Gregg, Taggart, Pedlow, McParland, Greave

Not their best performance of the season but Newry City still had too much fire power for Mid Ulster side St Marys under The Showgrounds lights on Friday night winning 3-1 to set up a Bob Radcliffe Cup quarter final against Tandragee.

Although Newry manager Darren Mullen made several changes to his starting line up the early exchanges looked very positive for the home side who opened up with two great chances neither of which were converted.

First Kevin McArdle broke forward and having exchanged passes with Sean McMullan found himself with a shooting opportunity but instead chose to square the ball to Marty Havern who shot straight at Daniel Devine. This was followed by an even better chance, Paudie Smith finding his former Warrenpoint partner McMullan inside the box, the big man making room for a shot unfortunate to see his effort hit the outside of the post.

For their part St Marys started off slowly, Neil Mullen cutting out a dangerous cross from Dermot Kelly the extent of the threat to the Newry goal. Certainly Newry looked the most likely to score and on the quarter hour mark they almost did, Decky Carville flighting a perfect cross field ball over the St Marys central defence falling for McMullan to chest and volley unfortunately straight at Devine.

The reprieve was temporary however, Carville chasing the ball to the by line and holding possession before finding Tiarnan Rushe on the corner of the penalty area. Rushe still had a lot to do but made it look simple curling a shot with his left foot across goal into the far top corner of the St Marys net for a picture goal.

For the next half hour chances were in short supply until injury time in the first half when Newry doubled their advantage. Before that the home sides best chance fell to Neil Mullen who made his way forward playing the ball wide to Rushe before receiving it back and trying his luck from the edge of the box, his shot saved by Devine. The visitors also settled into the game and played some neat passing football with Conor Byrne and Ryan Creany showing up well on the left wing, indeed Byrne and Creany created St Marys best chance of the half ending with a dangerous ball across the Newry goal which needed a clearance from Jordan King to snuff out the danger.

Newry grabbed that cushion goal in stoppage time when McMullan received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the box and flicked it over his head to Marty Havern who although surrounded by defenders took a touch to control the ball and another to make room before picking his spot inside the post to put the home side 2-0 up at the break.

St Marys came out of the blocks much better than Newry in the 2^nd half and had a great chance to pull a goal back after 50 minutes, a long ball catching out the home defence leaving the visiting centre forward Sean Brady with space on the edge of the box. However, split between passing and shooting indecision got the better of the argument, Brady’s tame effort easily saved by Peter Murphy.

Newry however failed to take the warning and Brady soon made amends for that miss when Creany swept a super ball across the face of the Newry goal perfect for Brady to slide home. And things could have got worse for Newry on the hour mark and once more it was Creany down the left wing with a dangerous ball into the Newry box which a St Marys player elected to head when perhaps he was better placed to take a touch, the ball hitting the post and scrambled clear. Shook into action Newry stepped up a gear and created a series of chances of their own, Stephen McCabe outpacing the St Marys defence before crossing for the recently introduced Mark Hughes who was unable to get enough power in his shot to beat Devine.

The home side came within inches of scoring on 80 minutes, Carville bringing the ball down the left wing before cutting back along the end line and finding McMullan, the striker toppling over as he stretched to have his first effort parried by Devine, McMullan struggling on the ground to forcing the loose ball over the goal line only to be denied by Devine.

Newry sealed the tie on 85 minutes. With the visitors pushing forward for the equalizer the ball was cleared to another Newry replacement Keith Johnston. Full off confidence with from his early season form Johnston raced into the St Marys half and with options either side Johnston drew the lone St Mary’s defender before slipping the ball to Hughes who used all his experience to round the goal keeper and walk the ball into the net to finish the days scoring.

In all a satisfactory performance from Newry and manager Darren Mullen who now set their sights on next Saturdays home league match against Banbridge Town “It was a game we made hard work of and ended up making it a lot more difficult than it should have been. We could have been two up in the first few minutes and that wastefulness in front of goal continued throughout the game. We struggled to get any great rhythm in our play which was partly down to the amount of changes I made from the previous week’s team. That said with the big squad that we have its up to the players to take their chance when they get it. Young Tiarnan Rushe was lively on his full debut and scored a terrific goal which I’m sure won’t be his last for the club. Whilst we know we can play a lot better that’s four wins out of our first five games and we now have a home tie in the quarter final. We have four home games in a row so we will be aiming to continue our good start to the season.’

Newry City Team: Peter Murphy, Kevin McArdle, Jordan King, Neil Mullen, Conor McCaul, Decky Carville, Marty Havern, Paudie Smith, Sean McMullan, Tiarnan Rushe, & Stephen McCabe. Subs: Keith Johnston, Graeme Edgar, Mark Hughes, Mark Patton, & Mark McCabe.

Photograph Courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.