Newry City suffered their first league defeat of the season in an entertaining encounter against table toppers Donegal Celtic in Belfast on Saturday. A game which could have gone either way, Newry taking an early lead through the impressive Decky Carville but proceeded to miss good chances for that all important second goal and paid the price when DC snatched an equalizer on the stroke of half time, the home side slowly getting on top in the second half with the winning goal coming in the closing minutes from ex Camlough Rovers player Declan Monaghan.

Indeed, it was Monaghan who had the first good chance of the game after ten minutes when a sloppy cross field ball by Newry was intercepted, the ball falling into the path of Monaghan with only Peter Murphy to beat but found the Newry keeper quickly off his line to save. Newry’s reply should have served as a warning to DC, Jimmy Walker swinging in a dead ball for which Carville rose highest but was unable to get enough power on his header to beat Sean McIlhone.

The home side would quickly regret not heeding the warning as on the quarter hour mark the scenario was repeated when Carville won a free kick on the left wing. Up stepped Walker to float a cross to the penalty spot from where Carville with still loads to do powered his header back across goal over McIlhone and into the top corner of the DC net to give Newry the lead. Carville was a constant threat to the home side and soon created another chance for himself winning the ball wide on the left before driving into the box via a give and go with Mark Hughes, the return pass just too far in front of Carville allowing McIlhone to dive forward to bravely smother the ball.

On 40 minutes Newry had a great chance for a second. Starting with Chris McMahon winning the ball inside the Newry half the ball went wide to Marty Havern who burst down the wing before firing in a low cross which Hughes arriving in the box at speed attempted to side foot into the bottom corner of the goal, his effort flashing the wrong side of the post.

The game changed on 45 minutes. First the visitors had another great chance to double their advantage, Havern playing the ball wide to Carville who twisted and turned to make room for a shot come cross which hit the inside of the back post and rebounded straight into the keeper’s arms. Play swept to the other end when first a slip by a Newry defender allowed the ball in behind the defence somehow finding its way to Kevin Hughes who from around the penalty spot gave Murphy little chance for the equalizing goal.

The second half was to be an end to end affair with both teams creating chances. First up were the visitors, Havern and Hughes combining to set up Carville, the striker pitching his curling shot too close to McIlhone allowing the keeper to save easily. At the other end a period of pinball around the Newry box saw the ball fall to Paul Brown who forced Murphy into an excellent diving save.

Half chances came and went for both sides until Newry went close on 80 minutes from a familiar source, Walker once more crossing for Carville to win the aerial battle, unfortunate to see his effort rattle the crossbar. With time running out Monaghan was to have similar misfortune at the other end when he also got the better of an aerial duel only to rap the ball off the Newry cross bar with what looked likely to be the last chance for either side for to grab the winner. That was not the case however as with the game slipping into added time DC attacked down the left wing, the ball finding its way across goal to the back post to the unmarked Monaghan who made no mistake from close range to seal the points for the Donegal Celtic.

 

After the game Newry manager Darren Mullen reflected on a game his team could and probably should have got something from “This was a game we should never have lost and to lose in the manner we did makes it all the more frustrating. At 1-0 up we had clear chances to add to our lead and ended up paying the price for missing them. It took us a while to get going but once we did I thought we were the better team for the majority of the game. Both sides had chances and a draw would probably have been a fair result but to take the lead and then throw it away is disappointing. To concede both goals in the last minute of each half is something we need to learn from because as we have seen at this level if you switch off for a minute you will get punished. That said we are sitting second after five games and have made a good start to the season so we just need to pick ourselves up and work hard on the training pitch to make sure we bounce back in the right manner.

 

Newry City: Murphy, Mullen, King, Curran, McCaul, McMahon, Walker, McCann, Carville, Havern, Hughes. Subs: McArdle, McMullan, McCabe, Patton, Johnston.

 

Newry City next travel to play Fivemiletown on the 22^nd October in the Intermediate Cup, KO 1:30pm. NCAFC travel club bus will leave The Stonebridge at 11:30.

A goal in each half from Decky Carville and a professional team display saw Newry City return to winning ways away to previously unbeaten Tobermore on Saturday. With Ian Curran and Conor McCaul completely dominant at the back the Newry goal was rarely threatened although on 15 minutes it did take a Thomas McCann clearance at the front post to deflect a whipped cross from Trevor Parkhill for a corner to keep the Newry goal intact. Newry created what looked to be their first goal scoring opportunity after 20 minutes when Marty Havern sliced the home defence with a pass which gave Mark Hughes a run on goal which was only stopped by a despairing foul on the edge of the box from a Tobermore defender. With Newry probing for an opening their next chance fell to a defender creating an extra option, Conor McCaul with a superb ball picking out the run of Neil Mullen who’s first touch took the ball inside the box alas crowded out of possession by home defenders.

Newry deservedly grabbed the opening goal after 34 minutes, Carville knocking the ball wide to Hughes who drilled a dangerous ball into the six-yard box from where Conor Kearns attempted to clear. When his scuffed clearance only found Carville, who is in rich goal scoring form having netted in the previous two games, the travelling Newry fans expected a goal and Carville made no mistake drilling the ball past Matthew McGaw to give Newry the lead. That lead was almost doubled minutes later when Curran pitched a free kick from the half way line straight onto the chest of Hughes who controlled the ball instantly and swivelled to volley on goal, his effort unfortunately flying over the crossbar. Hughes almost made more of less obvious chance just before half time when he rose highest to win a long ball from Jordan King, looping his header from the edge of the box over McGaw who had to back pedal to tip Hughes header over the cross bar to leave the half time score 1-0 to Newry.

No doubt spurred on by the half time team talk the home side were better after the break and were the first to threaten the goal, Peter Duffin breaking down the left wing before whipping in a low cross which Peter Murphy did well to smother at the feet of Neil Lamont. In reply Havern created a chance for Newry, nicking the ball from Kearns as the centre half dwelt on the ball on the halfway line. Now in a race for goal Kearns did well to get back forcing Havern to pull his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. Newry handed Tobermore a chance to get back into the game with 20 minutes left. With Parkhill marauding down the right wing Newry defended well to win possession. However, the decision not to clear the ball, instead attempting to pass their way out of the danger area, came a cropper when Parkhill regained the ball only to be fouled on the edge of the penalty area. This time it was McCaul who came to Newry’s rescue, joining the end of the wall at the last moment to first charge down the free kick and then reacting quickest to clear the loose ball.

The home side had a better chance to score on 78 minutes when a cross into the Newry penalty area found Lamont unmarked, fortunately for Newry Peter Murphy was well placed to save the centre forwards header. That was to be Tobermores last chance to take anything from the game as moments later Newry made the points safe. Throughout the game Carville and his marker Kearns had enjoyed a running battle and with the game entering its final stages the pair tussled for the ball down the right wing, referee Ben McMaster awarding Newry a free kick. When Walker floated a perfect ball into the box once more Hughes rose highest to nod the ball on, Carville losing the close marking Kearns to help Hughes effort over the line from close range for his and Newry’s second goal of the game to secure the win for Newry which pleased manager Darren Mullen “That was exactly the reaction we needed after last week’s defeat. We were solid from the start and restricted them to one attempt on target for the whole game. There’s no easy games in this league and we knew Tobermore would be difficult to break down. We were on the front foot from early on and should have been more than a goal up at halftime. The players are learning as we go and now know that patience and hard work are vital components if we are to progress. We continued to press whilst working hard all over the pitch and with the attacking threat which we have a second goal always looked likely. As I said last week after the defeat by Newington the players need to learn from those games and we showed signs today that the players are doing exactly that. It was a very important win against a team that hadn’t been beaten and sets us up for a good game away to Donegal Celtic next week”.

Newry City AFC: Murphy, Mullen, King, McCaul, Curran, McMahon, Walker, McCann, Hughes, Carville, Havern.  Subs: Johnston, McMullan, Smith, Patton, M McCabe.

Newry City now travel on Saturday 15^th October to play Donegal Celtic KO 3pm. NCAFC Travel Club bus will leave The Stonebridge at 1pm, all welcome.

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