Following last week’s tame defeat to local rivals Camlough Rovers Newry City manager Darren Mullen would have demanded a reaction from his players in Saturday’s home game against basement side Crewe at the Newry Showgrounds on Saturday. And whilst the Newry side never looked like repeating their five goal margin of victory achieved earlier in the season against Crewe Mullen was happy to get back to winning ways “Whilst it wasn’t our best performance it is a welcome three points after last week’s disappointing result. We needed a response and there’s no better way to do that than to win your next game. Crewe are a completely different side from the one we beat earlier in the year and were much better organised. If there’s one thing we need to learn from this season it’s patience and at half time the players were told not to panic and we would get our chances. That proved to be the case early in the second half and whilst we didn’t kick on we were never really threatened”.

That patience was needed from Newry on Saturday after a first half where they dominated possession but were unable to break down a robust Crewe defence. Indeed goal chances for the entire first half were limited to one clear chance for each side. Newrys came after a quarter of an hour. Chris McMahon won a crunching tackle in midfield before finding Paulis Smaryginas in space on the right side of the box, his first time shot across the Crewe goal saved at the second attempt by keeper Jamie Quinn. Crewe’s only chance of the half came on 20 minutes after a long ball up the middle was misjudged by the Newry defence, Conor McCaul’s pace allowing him to make up the ground to deflect Declan O’Connor’s shot for a corner.

The game swung Newrys way on 52 minutes. David O’Connor hit a long free kick into the penalty box for which Mark Patton rose highest to bullet a header back into the top corner of the Crewe net to put his side a goal up. Gary Crummy was having a great game on the Newry left wing taking every opportunity to run at his marker. Equally Mark Lowry was showing up well on the right and of the two teams Newry looked the more likely to score again.

The next chance however came from an unusual source, Paul Donegan remaining in an advanced position after a corner, the centre back showing great skill to recover the crossed ball outside the box before picking out Sean McMullan with a cross which the centre forward caught perfectly on the volley bringing a fine save from Quinn. Newry continued to probe, Lowry and McMullan combining to release Crummy at the back post, the young striker unfortunately unable to get the power needed in his shot to beat Quinn. The final scoring chance of the game was made by the pace and trickery of Newry’s best player on the day. Picking the ball up midway inside the Crewe half Crummy jinked past his marker taking the ball inside the box before finding McMullan who in turn laid the ball wide to Lowry, his shot skimming the top of the Crewe bar with Quinn beaten. So on the score board a narrow win for the home side but none the less important as pointed out by manager Mullen “The players know that the season is far from over and we’ll be pushing to ensure that they give 100% in every game until the end of the season. Young Gary Crummy was terrific today and he knows that he has to keep working and training hard to fulfil his potential. Hopefully we will now put a winning run together and see where that takes us.”

Newry City AFC Team: Murphy, Edgar, McCaul, Donegan, O’Connor, Patton, Smyrginas, McMahon, McMullan, Lowry, Crummy. Subs: Crilly (Smyrginas), Barr, Fay, Johnston.

Next Saturday, 21^st February NCAFC travel to Broomhill. The supporters bus will be departing from the Stonebridge at 1pm sharp. All are welcome to come along and show your local club the support they deserve!!

Newry City made it three league wins in a row with a 4-2 win over old rivals St Mary’s at the Showgrounds on Saturday. For their first meeting since both sides were promoted from Intermediate B last season Newry manager Darren Mullen would have known what to expect from the visitors and was naturally pleased with the result “After our games with St Marys last season we knew this was going to be a tough fixture and it proved to be the case. Having said that a few defensive lapses made it closer than it should have been. We have learned to be patient in recent games and although we had the majority of possession in the first half it wasn’t until the last 20 minutes or so of the half that that we looked dangerous. We maintained that higher tempo in the second half and we look a lot better when we move the ball quicker. That’s three wins in a row for us now as we start to get a more settled side. The win sets us up nicely for next Saturdays derby game away to Camlough in what will be a tough test for us but one that we are looking forward to.”

Mullen however will be aware that his team have been slow starters off late and they may not get away with that against high flying Camlough. On Saturday neither side registered an attempt on goal until the 15th minute when Newrys Mark Lowry controlled a Josh Durnin cross on his chest but having done the hard bit was unable to keep his shot down the ball flying harmlessly over the crossbar.  Although Newry were enjoying lots of possession chances were few and far between, the home fans made to wait until the 25th minute for Newry to get a shot on target, David O’Connor flighting a pass over the defence for Jimmy Walker who forced Martin Savage to react quickly to turn the ball around his near post. The home side continued to probe but found the St Mary’s rear guard a tough nut to crack.  On 40 minutes Conor McCaul almost found a way through. Having picked the ball up in his own half McCaul strode forward before finding Sean McMullan inside the box, the big man twisting to make space for a shot which Savage again saved. McMullan was to have the final chance of the half O’Connor’s cross nodded into his path by Mark Patton, McMullan’s first time shot this time not troubling the St Mary’s keeper.

Newry continued to press in the opening stages of the second half and got the little bit of luck which their play deserved on 55 minutes. Lowry now switched to the right wing stepped inside his marker and released McMullan. With no one available McMullan held the ball until the arrival into the box of Walker who’s first time shot deflected off the St Marys defender as he attempted to block, the ball spinning viciously into the corner of the net despite the best efforts of Savage.

Now a goal up and expecting to kick on Newry were rocked back on their heels on 65 minutes when they lost possession in the middle of the park, St Marys Sean Brady quickly seizing the opportunity to break down the left wing before whipping in a low cross which was clinically turned into the Newry net by Luke Carvill to level the scores.

Newry were not to be denied and restored their lead with a goal created and scored by Man of the Match Jimmy Walker. With little on Ian Curran pitched a long pass to Walker just outside the box. With his back to goal Walker took the ball on his chest drawing a foul from the St Mary’s defender.  Walker stepped up to take the free blasting his shot through the defensive wall, the ball taking a slight deflection on the way which aided its passage into the net.

Walker was now controlling the game but spurned a few chances to claim his hat trick. He was however involved in Newrys third goal on 83 minutes which should have wrapped up the game. With the ball in a central position Walker sprayed the ball wide to Neil Barr who lobbed in a high first time cross which McMullan rose highest to meet steering his header past Savage to make the game safe for the home side.

Or so it seemed but that was not allowing for the spirit of the visitors who once more broke up field from the restart, Chris Mackle finding space down the wing before crossing for the recently introduced Michael O’Haire who gave Ruddy no chance with an expert finish.

With the points now back in the balance Newry went right back on the attack, Lowry taking the ball to the end line before pulling his cross back to the penalty spot from where Barr’s first time shot was pushed wide by Savage. However the danger was not gone, O’Connor picking up the loose ball and lofting in a high ball which McMullan met with an overhead volley which skimmed the post. Unlucky with this, the Newry centre forward was soon to benefit from a major slice of fortune when a St Marys clearance hit the referee, the ball ricocheting straight to McMullan with only the keeper to beat, the big man calmly taking the ball around Savage before finishing to the empty net to round off the scoring 4-2 in Newry’s favour.

Newry City AFC: Ruddy, Hand, O’Connor, Curran, McCaul, McMahon, Walker, Patton, McMullan, Durnin, Lowry. Subs: Campbell, Edgar, Donegan, Barr, Fay.