As we sit at the top of the league with 10 games to go we realise that our season has gone well so far but promotion is never won in March. There are still 30 points to play for and we will fight to achieve every one of them. We are a big scalp for all the teams in the division and each of them will want to beat us. The players have been terrific up to this point and realise the importance of promotion at the club. We have won our last 5 games, scoring 23 goals and conceding only 4 with 3 clean sheets. Bearing in mind 3 of those games were against promotion rivals it has been a good run of form. The weather hasn’t helped at times with games being called off in weather more suited to ducks than footballers. However that is where the players need to keep focused and ensure their attitude is correct in preparation for the next game. All we can do is concentrate on our own performances and the rest will take care of itself.

Our reserve team have reached the final of their divisional cup and play Banbridge Rangers this Friday night at Holm Park in Armagh. To reach a final in their first season with a very young side is credit to manager Gary Redpath along with Kevin, Marty and Stephen. This will be a great
experience for the players and hopefully they can bring some silverware back to the club.

As I’ve stated in previous reports our fans have been a credit this season but their support away to Moneyslane deserves a special mention. They sang from start to finish and was greatly appreciated by the players and coaching staff. We will do everything we can to achieve our goal of promotion to help reward them for their continued support.

Yours in Sport,

Darren.

Newry City AFC regained sole possession of the top spot in Mid Ulster B with a comprehensive victory over Moneyslane in a much anticipated league clash at Crystal Park, Banbridge on Saturday.  While every game has to be approached correctly, with 11 league games remaining, Newry would have looked at this as potentially one of the tougher remaining and for the first twenty minutes of the match that looked to be correct as both teams probed without managing to get a foot hold in the game.

When the first chance did come on 20 minutes it really should have been taken by Newry. Sean Hand slipped a pass through Moneyslanes flat back four which was latched onto by Mark Patton now with only Ivan Blevins in the home goal to beat. Patton took his time in the hope that Blevins would commit but the keeper got the better of this tussle blocking Pattons first effort with his legs and then palming the rebound round the post for a corner.

From this point on good chances kept coming Newrys way. Again Hand and Patton combined this time to set up David Anderson at the back post. Anderson chose not to shoot instead picking out Neil Barr on the edge of the box Barr pulling his first chance of the day wide of the far post. Having weathered the early battle Newry were in control all over the field allowing their back four who had withstood the early pressure to now join in the forward play.

On the half hour mark Conor McCaul won the ball in his centre half position and waltzed up field before being cynically fouled some 40 yards from goal. Hand clearly fancied his chances from distance and when his free kick took a slight deflection the opening goal seemed certain except for a brilliant reaction save from Blevins who got his finger tips to the ball to divert it wide. Minutes later another Newry defender, Gary McVicker got forward taking a pass from Jimmy Walker and shooting from outside the box the ball flashing across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.

Next it was Niall Crillys turn to get involved swinging in a dangerous cross from the opposite side which Moneyslane could only clear to the edge of the box from where Hand tried to curl his shot to the top corner Blevins again thwarting Newry. With over a half hour gone and nothing to show the Newry fans were getting a little uneasy and when on a rare home foray forward by Moneyslane the ball bobbled around the Newry box Paul McElroy came to the rescue blocking a close range shot around the post to safety.

However, the pressure on the Moneyslane goal had to bring reward and on 38 minutes Newry went 1-0 up Hand receiving a pass from Walker on the corner of the box and blasting his shot past Blevins to the delight of the travelling support. Newry almost doubled their advantage before half time. Captain Chris McMahon, who is having a tremendous season in the heart of the Newry team, took possession of the ball in the middle of the park before finding Hand wide on the left. Hand sucked the defender into a challenge before skipping past him and hitting target man Patton. As he has done so often this season Patton controlled and laid the ball back to Walker, his curling right foot shot inches wide of the post with Blevins beaten.

The second half started with Newry once again on the attack. Anderson hugging the right wing skipped past two tackles and found Walker again hovering on the edge of the box, Newry again unlucky as Walkers shot thumped off the post and away to safety. The Moneyslane goal really was leading a charmed life at this stage with chances coming thick and fast. McMahon and Crilly are sure to link up many times during a Newry game and on the hour mark they did just this to release Anderson again on the right wing. Anderson cut inside and hit in a low shot which Blevins could only parry with Patton the first to react, the Newry centre forward yet again bringing the best out of Blevins as he quickly recovered to block Patton’s reactive shot with his legs.

On 67 minutes it was the goal post again which came to Moneyslane’s rescue. McMahon won a towering header inside his own half, Patton flicked the ball between the central defenders with a glancing header to which Barr won the race and was very unfortunate to see his half volley cannon of the outside of the post. Amazingly Newry hit the Moneyslane post for the fourth time on 73 minutes and again it was to Patton’s misfortune, Crilly and Anderson once more combining to find the big man with his back to goal. In a flash Patton had turned his opposite number and watched in disbelief as his shot cannoned of the post with Blevins beaten.

Newry however sealed the points with two goals in three minutes both from top scorer Neil Barr. On 77 minutes McMahon played the ball through a gap in the home defence which Barr ran onto before slamming his shot past Blevins before repeating the feat three minutes later arriving at the near post to get on the end of neat passing movement between Walker and Anderson for Newry’s third goal.

With the damn now well and truly burst it was fitting that Newry’s best players on the day made and scored goal number four, McMahon floating in a high ball which was knocked down by Patton and snapped up by Man of the Match Anderson who planted his shot to the back of the Moneyslane net for number four. Moneyslane reduced the arrears with minutes remaining when Greg Harrison ran onto a through ball and chipped a delightful effort over Peter Murphy in the Newry goal for what was to be a consolation effort only with Newry running out 4-1 winners.

Newry manager Darren Mullen was obviously happy after the game but adamant that nothing was in the bag yet “It was another complete team performance from start to finish. We knew Moneyslane would be up for the game but our defence handled anything they had in the opening half hour or so and we never looked troubled. Once we got to grips with the game our fitness and pace showed. Although we missed many chances during the game we kept creating and there were many positive to take, not least another three points which takes us back to the top of the league. We told the players we have 10 cup finals to go and we will ensure that they are focused on the games ahead”

Newry’s next match is Saturday 29^th March away to Lurgan Town. NCAFC Travel club bus will leave the Stonebridge @ 13:15hrs, all welcome.

MOTM: David Anderson

Photograph courtesy of Brendan Monaghan.

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

Newry City secured a massive three points away to Hanover on Saturday but will certainly have suffered the wrath of manager Darren Mullen after the game having gone from cruise control leading 4-0 with fifteen minutes remaining to calling for the final whistle conceding three goals and hanging on for victory by the narrowest of margins. In the goals scored column Newry once again relied on leading marksman Neil Barr who weighed in with his third hat trick of the season which earned him another Man of the Match accolade.

Barr’s first chance to score came after only two minutes when he latched onto a Mark Patton knock down and from the edge of the box fired in a dipping volley which the Hanover keeper did well to palm over the cross bar. Newry went a goal in front on seven minutes when David Anderson surged down the right wing and whipped a dangerous cross along the six yard box which a Hanover defender in his attempt to clear deflected the ball past his own keeper.

Goal number two came five minutes later and reflected the tempo which Mullen has instilled in Newry this year. Captain Chris McMahon harassed a mistake out of the Hanover midfield, the loose ball falling into the path of Anderson who immediately looked for Patton and Barr. It was Patton who ran onto Anderson’s pass, Barr dropping behind and running around Patton who slid a clever ball into his path allowing his partner to smash a powerful shot on the run into the bottom corner of the Hanover net to double Newry’s advantage.

Newry were now attacking at will on both flanks. Paddy Mooney has had a major impact on his return to Newry City and again showed his worth linking with Gary McVicker before outpacing his marker in a race to the by line and clipping a dangerous cross to the back post which unfortunately was not anticipated by his team mates who had all attacked the near post. The same Newry men were instrumental in the next scoring opportunity. McVicker received a quick throw out from Peter Murphy and found Mooney on the half way line with his back to goal. Mooney spun his defender and slipped a pass through the Hanover defence which Barr ran onto. Now bearing down on goal with the advancing keeper to beat Barr shot early, his effort with the outside of his right foot always curling away from goal.

Towards the end of the half Hanover came a little more into the game but robust defending from Conor McCaul and Paul McElroy ensured that the Newry lead remained intact. Newrys final chance of the half fell the way of Mooney on 40 minutes. Barr controlled a clearance and found McMahon wide on the right. McMahon immediately switched the attack with a cross field pass to Anderson who slid a diagonal ball through the home defence giving Mooney a race for the ball with the advancing Hanover keeper. Although Mooney’s  pace got him to the ball first he was unfortunate to see his chip shot beat both the keeper and the crossbar to leave the half time score 2-0 to Newry.

The Newry boys secured the start they wanted to the second half when they went three goals in the lead on the 50^th minute. McMahon again started the move spraying a pass from one side of the field to the other finding Niall Crilly. Playing a one two with Jimmy Walker, Crilly made ground before finding Anderson in space wide on the right. Having found that space Anderson took his time before picking out Mooney inside the box, Mooney immediately laying the ball to Barr who had the simplest of tasks planting the ball into the net for number 3. This goal was in complete contrast to that which clinched Barr’s hat trick on the hour mark. Shane Lundy won the ball on the half way line and immediately found McVicker. Rather than going down the line McVicker spotted that Barr had roamed to a central position about thirty yards from goal. Taking the pass from McVicker Barr took a step forward and launched a missile like shot which hit the top corner of the Hanover net before the home keeper had moved.

Having won their previous three games 5-0 it seemed to those watching that a repeat was on the cards. Unfortunately the Newry players were obviously thinking along the same lines as they created and missed a series of gilt edged chances to score with a list of players guilty. And even when Hanover pulled a goal back courtesy of a penalty on 75 minutes it still looked as if Newry would score again to banish any fear of a comeback.

Against the background of wasteful finishing from the Newry players one moment of skill stood out when Mark Patton lost his defender inside the box with a sublime turn and was unlucky not to score with the resultant shot.

The tension was turned up on 80 minutes by a second Hanover goal and when their third goal followed five minutes later Newry were forced into a possession only game in a bid to secure the win to the point that even when the Hanover goalkeeper was stranded in the Newry penalty area, having come forward for a corner kick, the Newry players chose to keep possession rather than go for goal.  This proved to be the correct decision when referee Ciaran McAllister blew the final whistle with Newry a goal to the good.

Speaking after the game the Newry manager was content with the win and hoped that his team would benefit from the experience “It’s a lesson for the lads in a game that we could have won easily when we were 4-0 up. I told them after the game that we won’t be handed the league and that the performance in the final half hour simply was not acceptable. However, it’s three points and another game towards our goal of promotion.”

Newry City AFC’s next game is next Saturday, 22^nd March away to Moneyslane. As usual NC Travel Club will be running a bus to the game departing from the Stone Bridge, Newry at 13:15 hrs.

Newry City AFC: Murphy, McVicker, McElroy, McCaul, Crilly, Mooney, Walker, McMahon, Anderson, Barr, Patton, Substitutes: Edgar, Lundy, Lowry, Campbell, Martin.

Name: Mark Patton

Age: 26

Occupation: I work in Norbrook.

Previous Clubs: Bessbrook United

Honours: 2 x Carnbane League titles, 4 x Bessbrook cups, 2 x Mid Ulster shields, about 5 x AOH and 5 x Fr.Davies cups and also 1 x Kennedy cup.

Position: Striker

Footballing Hero: Ryan Giggs

What are your interests outside of football? Playing Gaelic, going for a few beers & chilling with family and friends.

If you could take 3 celebrities to dinner who would they be and why?  Ryan Giggs because he’s a Man Utd legend, Kevin Bridges for a good laugh and Steven Gerrard to serve us food and drink. I’d get Bridges to take the mick out of him!

Tell us something about yourself not many people know! I’m a bit of a geek. I secretly love a soppy movie!

What is the best ground you have played in? Stangmore Park in Dungannon.

What would you like to achieve by the time you hang up your boots?  To try and help Newry climb as many Leagues as I can.

Who is the joker of the team? Niall ‘creepy man’ Crilly.

Who is the best at training? Graeme ‘I’d play anywhere’ Edgar.

Who is the worst at training? Jimmy ‘always late’ Walker.

Who has the worst dress sense? Niall Crilly – too much One direction going on there!

One song that gets you pumped up for a match? Any type of dance music.

Who is the best player you have ever played with?  Jab Feehan from my time with Bessbrook United.

What one word would best describes you as a footballer? Determined.

And finally…a word for the fans? Loyal.

“A complete team performance” was how manager Darren Mullen described Newry City’s home win against Dungannon Tigers on Saturday. Pleased that his team had played with a high tempo throughout restricting the visitors to little quality possession Mullen will know that his team must maintain these performances going into the second half of the season as they aim to capitalise on their start to the season which sees Newry sit on top of Mid Ulster Intermediate B by the narrowest of margins.

Newry pressurised from the kick off and took the lead on five minutes when a right wing cross from Niall Crilly found its way to the back post where Paddy Mooney nipped in behind his defender to prod the bouncing ball past the Dungannon keeper Luke O’Donnell and into the net to put the home side 1-0 up. Stirred by falling behind the Tigers began to get a foothold in the game but found Joel Annett and Paul McElroy unbeatable at the heart of the Newry defence. The home side doubled their advantage on 17 minutes when a long ball from goal keeper Peter Murphy was nodded on by centre forward Mark Patton into the path of David Anderson who took the ball into the box before unselfishly squaring to `Newry’s top goal scorer Neil Barr who calmly sided footed to the roof of the net from close range. Jimmy Walker gave Barr the chance to put Newry three up minutes later but Barr’s effort from the edge of the box skimmed wide of the Dungannon post. Patton was giving the Tigers central defenders a torrid time both in the air and on the ground and he again was central to goal number three. Chasing a long ball to the edge of the Tigers box Patton forced the Dungannon defender into making a loose clearance which he latched onto before playing a one two with David Anderson. Patton made himself some room to shot and curled a left foot shot to the far corner which O’Donnell spilled to the feet of the ever alert Barr who forced the ball over the line for his second goal of the day.

The second half started slowly with little in the way of excitement except for a half claim for a penalty from Newry when Barr seemed to be taken down inside the box, the referee waving away claims for a spot kick. However the wait for something was not an anti climax, the Newry fan’s patience rewarded on 65 minute’s with a picture goal from Mooney. With not much to aim for with the ball wide on the right Walker again picked out the reliable target man Patton, who even when not scoring contributes so much to the team play. From the edge of the box Patton cleverly nodded the ball down to Mooney who in a flash hit a sweet half volley which flew into the bottom corner of the Dungannon net giving O’Donnell little chance to save.

With the points now safe it was just a matter of improving goal difference and when Chris McMahons long ball was won by Anderson and he fed Barr it looked like number 5 was coming, Barr turning his marker inside out before firing his shot over the cross bar from inside the box. Dungannon continued to contest and made a few half chances which were very competently dealt with by the Newry defence and goal number five came Newry’s way on 74 minutes. Awarded a free kick thirty yards out McMahons strike hit the wall and appeared to come to nothing. McMahon however charged down the clearance the ball ricocheting to Anderson inside the Tigers box. Anderson laid the ball back to Crilly who played a deft pass into the path of Walker who let his dancing feet do the rest as he mesmerised the Dungannon defence with a few feigns and shuffles before finding the narrowest of gaps at the near post with his shot to put Newry 5-0 up. 

Newry are well into double figures for clean sheets so far this season and Murphy ensured that this game would be another when late in the game he produced a splendid save diving low to the base of his post to save a misdirected defensive header to leave the final score 5-0 to Newry. This was a fine overall performance from Newry with Murphy guarded by his defence in which Man of the Match Paul McElroy never put a foot wrong . In midfield captain McMahon worked tirelessly whilst Walker again showed his array of footballing skills and up front Patton won every ball with his compatriots Barr and Mooney each grabbing a brace of goals. Even better for Newry was the group of players on the bench all with first team experience which will certainly be called upon in the coming weeks with fixtures mounting.

Newry’s next game takes place on Saturday 15th March away to Hanover in a league fixture. Newry City Travel Club bus to the game will leave from the Stone Bridge @ 13:15hrs, as usual all are welcome aboard.

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

Cover Photo: Brendan Monaghan, Photos in Report: Noel Moan