Newry City AFC U13 4-3 Valley Rangers U13

Newry City AFC U13 4-3 Valley Rangers U13

Nathan Crudden 10, 21, 26

 Ethan Patterson 31    

If Under 13 matches lasted 40 minutes then Newry would have cruised to a comprehensive victory over Valley Rangers in The Showgrounds today. Instead Newry took their foot off the pedal and were nearly made to pay against a Valley team that never gave up.

Newry started extremely well playing the ball around under control and they were rewarded for their good style on 10 minutes when a shot from the Newry midfield was fumbled by the Valley keeper and Nathan Crudden was first to react to put the ball in the net.

The goal of the game came in the 21st minute when Newry doubled their lead with a great team goal. Sean McConville picked the ball up in the midfield and ran at the Valley defence. He played a pass into Tiarnan Murphy who expertly back heeled the ball into the path of the oncoming Matthew Treanor. “Mattie” let fly with a shot that was deflected into the path of the oncoming Nathan Crudden who bagged his brace with a nice finish.

The third goal, and Nathan’s hat-trick came on the 26th minute when a Tairnan Murphy free kick was too hot to handle for the Valley keeper and Nathan Crudden was there AGAIN to slot home. A lesson for anyone reading this report, follow up on every shot!

Half time came with Newry leading 3 – 0 and looking like cruising to victory. The game restarted and Newry immediately went on the attack. Miceal Murray played an intricate ball through to the newly introduced Ethan Patterson who one minute into his appearance expertly finished when facing a one-on-one against the Valley keeper.

Despite the fact that there was still nearly all the second half remaining the Newry players must have thought the game was over because their game deserted them. Valley started to play neat through balls to their centre forward that Newry couldn’t work out how to defend. These through balls resulted in goals for Valley’s number 5 on the 38th, 40th and 50th minutes.

With Newry now clinging to a one-goal advantage Tiarnan Murphy was moved into a holding midfield role and Newry managed to hold off Valley for the remaining 10 minutes.

Newry will be glad to come away with another three points, which leaves them still unbeaten and top of the table.

Man of the Match has to go to Nathan Crudden for his hat-trick but also a special mention for Miceal Murray who impressed in midfield on his debut.

Newry smash five past league leaders!

Newry joined their opponents of next Friday night, Valley Rangers, at the top of the league with this 5-2 defeat of Dungannon Tigers on Saturday. Away from home against the previously unbeaten table toppers the Newry players were in determined mood from the kick off and had their first good chance to score in only the second minute after Niall Crilly and Mark Patton combined to free Jimmy Walker who fired his shot just wide from the edge of the Tigers box. Walker had a similar chance minutes later when Graeme Edgar found Chris McMahon in space in midfield. McMahon immediately shifted the ball wide to the overlapping Crilly and when his low cross found Walker in his favourite attacking position on the edge of the box his goal bound shot had to be deflected over the bar by a Dungannon defender.

Newry’s next two chances fell the way of their captain Chris McMahon.  First he took a short pass from full back David Anderson inside his own half before making ground into Dungannon territory and drilling a low shot just wide. This was followed on the half hour mark with another good chance fashioned from a clever free kick. With the free kick spot half way inside the Dungannon half and wide on the right the home defenders were expecting a left footed cross. John Smyth however played the ball back to Edgar in a more central position and his straight ball into the box was perfectly flighted for McMahon as he arrived unchallenged into the box, alas unable to keep his headed attempt under the bar. Newry took the lead just on half time when Neil Barr controlled a long delivery from Peter Murphy before passing to McMahon wide on the Newry right wing. McMahon beat his defender and crossed low to Walker this time on the edge of the six yard box from where he made no mistake to make the half time score 1-0 to Newry.

Newry were caught cold immediately after the restart when a long innocuous ball into the box took a nasty bounce which deceived the Newry defence leaving goal keeper Murphy with no chance to prevent the equalizer.

However the Newry boys regrouped and showed tremendous spirit to regain the lead almost immediately and again the captain was involved.  From a recycled corner Crilly whipped in another cross which McMahon met with a bullet header which the Tigers keeper did well to stop only for his palmed deflection to land at the feet of goal predator Barr who drilled home from ten yards to put Newry 2-1 up. Although the final result was by a convincing three goal margin the defining moment of the game was a brilliant penalty save by Murphy on the hour mark. This was a save which was greeted with similar jubilation to a goal by both the Newry players and supporters who felt much aggrieved at the referee’s decision to award a spot kick for an innocuous tussle in the box. Referees however do not often change their mind and it was left to Murphy to dive full length to save and keep his side in the lead. Much buoyed by these events Newry went 3-1 up on the hour mark when a free kick from the left wing was met by a bullet header from Conor McCaul which hit the back of the net before the home keeper could move. Dungannon battled back and reduced their arrears on seventy five minutes when a long throw in was not dealt with by the Newry defence and again Murphy was given little chance when the loose ball fell into the path of a Tigers player who made the score line 3-2 with fifteen minutes left.

 Fortunately Newry manager Darren Mullen has instilled a great team spirit and belief in his young side and they finished the match with two golden goals. With five minutes remaining a Newry free kick from the half way line was played high into the Dungannon box and when the clearing header fell invitingly to Smyth twenty yards from goal he needed no second invitation to smash a righted footed volley over the home keepers head and into the far top corner of the net. The joyous celebration for this goal which involved the complete Newry squad was re-enacted five minutes later for Newry’s fifth and perhaps best goal of the day.

With time virtually up a Dungannon corner was cleared to the half way line leaving Newry’s fast forward Mark Lowry in a one on one contest with the Dungannon centre half. With his back to goal Lowry won the ball on the half way line, spun round the defender and sped past him with a clear run on the keeper beckoning. However the impetuosity of youth took over and Lowry unleashed a terrific drive from around forty yards out which flew over the home keeper and into the opposite top corner of the net which Smyth had recently hit.

This was a complete team performance from Newry in which every player gave everything that the management team had asked from them.  Adapting quickly to the 3G surface Newry were always in control of the game. Although Peter Murphy must be worthy of a special mention for his all round display plus that penalty save the Newry spirit was again personified in the Man of the Match display of team captain Chris McMahon.

Newry City AFC: 1. Peter Murphy 2. Niall Crilly 3. David Anderson 4. Joel Annett 5. Conor McCaul  6. Jimmy Walker 7. Graeme Edgar 8. Chris McMahon 9. Neil Barr  (Thompson) 10. Mark Patton (Lowry) 11. John Smyth (Larkin)  Subs: 12. Lonnie Larkin  13. Sean Hand 14. Mark Lowry 15. Peter Thompson

Youth Development Officer offically announced

Newry City AFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Conlon Morrison as its new Youth Development Officer.

Conlon Morrison
Conlon Morrison

Conlon is a former youth international and played for Bessbrook, Dungannon Swifts and Windmill Stars during his career. He was part of the Windmill Stars panel that won the Junior Cup along with Senior Team manager Darren Mullen.

Conlon is currently involved with the U13 team and has recently set up the new skills school which runs on Friday night. As part of his role he will be responsible for the formation of new teams at each age group ensuring the proper coaching staff are in place.

“I am delighted to have someone of Conlons knowledge and capabilities on board at the club”, said Senior Team manager Darren Mullen.

“I’ve known Conlon for the past 25 years and was lucky enough to play in the same team as him. His enthusiasm and passion for the role have already shone through and he has made some very good progress in the short time he has been in the role.

“As with the Senior team things will be done in the right manner with the correct people on board and hopefully with Conlons assistance we will have a regular feed from youth level right through to the senior squad.”

Newry City beaten in local derby

Newry City were knocked of the Mid Ulster Cup in Saturdays 2nd round clash away to Amateur League 1A side Rathfriland Rangers who were marshalled throughout by ex Newry stalwart Paul Donegan.  Although this was the second cup defeat in successive weekends the Newry management will have been much more satisfied with this display against a strong Rathfriland side.

Newry started the game with a new striking partnership of Neil Barr and Mark Patton and it was from the display of Patton that the Newry fans will take most encouragement for the forthcoming fixtures. Making his seasonal debut having returned from a serious injury Patton was a real handful for the Rathfriland defence both on the floor but mostly in the air where he enjoyed the better of many aerial duels with Rathfriland centre half Johnny Gibson.

Neil Barr shields the ball from a Rathfriland player
Neil Barr shields the ball from a Rathfriland player

Newry had the first good chance of the game after 6 minutes when Conor McCaul helped a long clearance into the path of Neil Barr who bore down on goal from the Newry left but drilled a low shot wide of the post. The game continued end to end before the next clear chance on 25 minutes which again fell to Newry. This time Barr rose highest to nod a Peter Murphy kick out to John Smyth wide on the right wing. Smyth ran at his defender and feigned to go down the line before cutting in and curling a left foot shot which forced the home keeper to make a fine save at the far post.

Newry paid the price for a little indiscipline on the half hour mark. Whilst some of the Newry players were still distracted appealing for what seemed like an off side decision which was not given in earlier play the Rathfriland players took a short corner which Ryan Evans carried to the edge of the Newry penalty area before unleashing a terrific shot which flew past Murphy into the top corner of the Newry net.

Almost immediately Newry had the chance to equalize when neat interplay between Graeme Edgar and Walker in the middle of the field released Barr again on the right wing. With space to run into Barr made ground but as he was about to shoot the ball bobbled, his shot rising from it left his boot and flew a foot over the bar.  It was on the stroke of half time that Newry came closest to equalizing. Patton won another long clearance nodding the ball into to path of the overlapping David Anderson who continued down the wing before rifling his shot to the near post. Taken by surprise the home keeper could only push the ball onto the inside of his post and was fortunate to see it rebound across his goal line to safety.

Rathfriland doubled their advantage soon after the restart. A long throw in from inside his own half by Donegan put his old team mate Ian Curran, who had just entered the game for the injured Paul McElroy, under pressure and his attempt to shepherd the ball over the goal line was intercepted by Darren McGrath who made his way now unattended into the Newry box before slamming the ball past the helpless Murphy to put the home team 2-0 up.

Action from Rathfriland FC v Newry City AFC
Action from Rathfriland FC v Newry City AFC

Patton and Barr continued to link up well, the latter on hand to pick up Patton’s headed flick on’s.  On the hour mark Barr found himself on the end of another Patton set up only for his shot to be blocked at the expense of a corner by the home keeper’s legs. Patton’s last involvement in the match was to head the resulting corner over the bar.

Newry introduced Mark Lowry to their attack with 25 minutes left and the speedy forward had an immediate impact winning a free kick with his first touch which Walker swung over and Curran won at the back post only for his headed effort to go wide of the post.  Newry had a similar free kick minutes later and when Walkers cross was cleared to the edge of the box Curran was there to lob the ball back into the box Lowry nipping in between Gibson and the keeper to win the ball and finish to the net to half the deficit.

Newry’s final chance to equalize came on 85 minutes. Anderson picked up the ball in his own half and made ground before sliding a pass into the box for Barr who’s shot on the run was blocked wide by Donegan. However, the best chance followed from the resultant corner as Walker’s cross was helped on by the head of McCaul to Barr free at the back post who in his attempt to nod the ball over the keeper got too much power on his effort and the ball slipped over the bar leaving the final score 2-1 to Rathfriland.

This was an improved effort from Newry against an experienced Rathfriland side which should prove to be beneficial when they resume league duties against table toppers Dungannon Tigers next Saturday, 28th Sept. In a game which saw many hard working contributions the stand out Newry performance came from Mark Patton.

Newry City AFC: Peter Murphy, David Anderson, Gary McVicker, Joel Annett, Paul McElroy, Jimmy Walker, Conor McCaul, Graeme Edgar, Mark Patton, Neil Barr, John Smyth. Subs: Mark Lowry (Smyth), Ian Curran (McElroy), Peter Thompson, Paul Daly, Lonnie Larkin (Patton).

Photos courtesy of Brendan Monaghan

Newry City AFC presents ‘Octobeard’

During the month of October the Newry City AFC senior squad, management, coaching staff and some supporters are taking part in ‘Octobeard’ – which requires them to go unshaven for the full month! This is to raise money for Barry Trainor’s ‘Children of Africa’ fund.

Senior Team Manager Darren Mullen and
Newry City AFC Senior Team Manager Darren Mullen and Barry Trainor

Barry is a former youth coach with the club and has been doing tremendous work for the charity over the past six years.

Senior Team Manager Darren Mullen was only too happy to help Barry in his quest for funding.

“I’ve known Barry a while now and he’s one of the nicest lads you could meet. What he does within this charity is absolutely incredible and if we can help in any small way then it will certainly be worthwhile.

“It’s also good for team spirit within the squad and I’m sure there will be plenty of banter along with a few dodgy looking characters over the next month. The lads had no hesitation in agreeing to the idea which shows the unity within the group. Hopefully people will contribute to the cause.”

The rules of ‘Octobeard’ are simple! You grow out your beard in the month of October. If you already have hair on your face, you have to shave it clean and start fresh. You then do everything you can to get donations rolling in!

All players, coaches and supporters taking part will have a sponsor form from now until the end of October with the aim to raise as much funds as possible for Barry and his charity. Please give generously as Barry will be returning to Africa to work voluntary with disadvantaged children.

Make sure to keep an eye out on our website for regular updates on how the ‘unshaven’ are coping with the challenge.