Not only was it a great result to get 3 points against Institute FC, Manager Darren Mullen was also delighted to give TJ Hughes his first team debut, “TJ has been doing very well for the U20s and had scored 2 that morning in their win so his debut was well deserved. Our squad is stretched very thin at the minute so we need the best young players at the club coming through and TJ is certainly one of those. He’s the 4th of the Hughes brothers to play for the first team and I’m sure it’s a day he won’t forget. What he needs to do now is keep working hard to make sure it’s not his last appearance.”

TJ commented “I was absolutely delighted that Darren gave me a chance and allow me to make my debut in such a big game. I can’t wait for the future and hopefully get some more playing time.”

Newry City maintained their good run of form with a solid win over table toppers Institute at The Showground’s on Saturday. Having started the game on the front foot the home side found themselves a goal down after 11 minutes, Jamie Dunn finding space inside the Newry box to side foot the ball home with a neat finish. It was almost two for the visitors minutes later, Warner Mullen cutting in from the right wing before drilling a low shot across Steven Maguire, the Newry keeper diving low to deflect the ball for a corner.

Newry were denied what looked like a good shout for a penalty after 27 minutes when Aaron Jarvis appeared to handle a cross ball near the penalty spot, referee N Robinson waving away the Newry appeals. Momentum swung in Newry’s favour on 33 minutes when Caoimhan Bonnar head butted the back of Newry striker Keith Johnstons head, straight in front of referee assistant J McCord, the referee wasting little time after consulting with his official in showing Bonnar a straight red card for his actions.

Similar to the reverse fixture at the end of January the Institute reaction to having a player sent off was to defend their goal and invite Newry to try and break them down. Unlike that game which ended scoreless Newry did just that but it did take them until the 67th minute to find a way through, Decky Carville rising highest to nod the ball back across goal finding the unlikely figure of Dara Noonan perfectly placed in a goal poachers position to prod the ball home. 10 minutes later and Newry grabbed a deserved lead, John Boyle pitching a perfect ball into the box, Noonan once more in the right spot to power his header back over Martin Gallagher and into the far side of the net to put Newry 2-1 up.

Although reduced to 10 men the visitors refused to lay down and almost grabbed an equaliser on 85 minutes, substitute Sean McCarron cutting in from the left wing before firing a dipping drive on goal which Maguire pushed over his crossbar with an excellent save.

In injury time Newry made the points safe when Mark McCabe picked the ball up just inside the Institute half before running at the defence and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner of the Institute net from the edge of the box to seal a 3-1 win for the home side.

Match Highlights

Smash and grab and a game of two halves are two clichés which may sum up Saturdays game at The Showground’s. Set fair for a home win after only 8 minutes when Decky Carville looked to have timed his run from midfield perfectly before sliding the ball past Paddy Flood only to be called back for a dubious offside flag. From there the rest of the half belonged largely to the visitors Clifford Adams’ away side took an early lead with their first clear-cut chance of the game 11 minutes in. Referee Mark Dillon penalised Darren King for a pull on Gary Brown on the left hand side and when Christopher Middleton whipped the ball in, City keeper Steven Maguire didn’t collect allowing Chris Rodgers to nod the ball into the empty net. Maguire however was to make amends several times in the next half hour with a series of saves to keep Newry in the game.

The second half was a different story, Newry pressing at every opportunity to get that vital first win after the mid season break. Hopes of that win would have been reduced to looking for an equalizer by the time City levelled a minute from the end of normal time, Johnston making space down the left before squaring the ball to Walker just inside the box. When Flood couldn’t hold the midfielder’s fierce shot there was substitute Mullen to steer home the rebound from six yards out.

There was even better to come for Newry two minutes later as Mullen got a touch on a high ball outside the area before lifting it towards goal and over the head of the Ballyclare defenders who could only watch on as another substitute Johnston poked it underneath Flood, the ball seeming to take an eternity to cross the line which it eventually did to spark wild celebrations at The Showgrounds, Newry seeing out the final minute of stoppage time to secure the points.

Match Highlights