Newry City extended their unbeaten run to ten games but had to share the points in Castlederg as the home side, Dergview, twice came from behind to match goals for Newry from Decky Carville and Jimmy Walker. While a draw keeps that unbeaten run going Newry would have hoped for better after getting off to the best possible start. With only a minute on the clock Marty Havern cut the home defence open with a perfect pass into the stride of Carville who picked his spot wide of the Dergview Keeper Buchanan.

Chances came and went at both ends, Steven Maguire pushing a low shot from Gareth Falcolner around his post while for Newry Stephen Hughes and Carville combined on the Newry right set up Havern at the near post, Havern shot across goal going the wrong side of the far post.

The home side drew level on the quarter hour mark. Attacking down the left wing Newry were caught out when Falcolner switched play to the right wing where he found Aaron Arkinson who then picked out Ryan Campbell to volley home.

Newry almost responded in the best possible fashion, Walker clipping a free kick into the box met by a powerful header from Darren King the ball seemingly heading for the top corner only to be clawed back by a flying save from Buchanan.

Newry were handed the chance to go back ahead shortly before half time in somewhat controversial circumstances when referee Harrigan ruled that Dergview defender Richard Lynch had passed the ball back to his goal keeper who handled the ball, the referee awarding a free kick to Newry around the penalty spot. Newrys dead ball expert Walker elected for power smashing the ball past a crowded Dergview defensive line to leave Newry 2-1 ahead at the break.

The second half was only minutes old when Havern got behind the Dergview defence bearing down on goal only to be denied by an excellent last ditch challenge from Lee McNulty. While Maguire had to be at his best to push away an effort from McManus it was Buchanan who was the busier of the keepers in the second half, the Dergview custodian grateful to see a shot from Carville fizz the wrong side of his post and then to block a first time shot from Keith Johnston after he was set up by Stephen Hughes.

However despite Newrys offensive dominance they were unable to grab that vital third goal and were made to pay the price late in the game when a sweeping Dergview attack moved the ball from back to front, the ball eventually finding Browne on the edge of the box, his arrowed shot cannoning off the base of Maguires post and into the net for a share of the spoils.  There was still a chance for a 3rd Newry goal only for Decky Carville to dither when when placed in front of goal allowing a Dergview defender to get back to block and with that Newrys winning chance was gone.

Newry City Manager commented “When you score in the first minute of a game it should be the ideal way to push on and get three points. However we squandered chances in both halves and unfortunately paid the price again. That said Dergview certainly didn’t play like a team who are in the bottom half of the table and made it a difficult game. Their goals were two excellent strikes and there’s very little Steven could have done about them. I can’t fault the players for their effort as they worked hard all over the pitch and are annoyed that they didn’t get the win. We are on a terrific run at the minute and to go ten games unbeaten is a credit to them. On another day we would have put those chances away but it wasn’t to be and we now have a cup semi-final at home to look forward to.”

On Tuesday night, NCAFC welcome Banbridge Town to the Showgrounds in the Semi Final of the Mid Ulster Cup KO 7.45pm & then travel to Knockbreda on Saturday (9^th December) Supporters bus departing from the Stonebridge at 12.15pm.

NCAFC: Maguire, McArdle, King, Boyle, M Hughes, McCann, Havern, Walker, S Hughes, Carville, McCabe. Subs: Mullen, Johnston, Richmond, Cunningham, McMahon.

Two points dropped or a point gained was the question after Newry City’s 2-2 draw at home to Limavady on Friday night. As ever with such conundrums there are valid arguments for both views. Perhaps with half time approaching and their side 2 goals down the Newry supporters would have grabbed a point with both hands. However, that outlook would have changed on 43 minutes when a sublime ball from Jimmy Walker found Decky Carville behind the Limavady defence. Still with loads to do Carville made scoring look easy, side footing the bouncing ball over the advancing keeper and into the far corner of the net to put Newry back in the game. Bolstered by that lifeline and no doubt roasted by the Newry management when back in the dressing room it was a different performance from the home side after the break, enjoying about 90% possession creating enough chances that by the end that most supporters were left to rue that these were perhaps points dropped.

All of that however came after a 1st half during which Newry never scaled the heights of previous weeks. Indeed it was the visitors with most of the attacking play in the opening 15 minutes during which they forced a succession of corners. It was from one of these that they opened the scoring, Paul Owens corner helped on at the near post by Limavady defender John Wall. With the home side unable to clear the danger it was Wall who latched onto the loose ball stabbing it past Stephen Maguire to put Limavady a goal up. Although not delivering their usual high tempo brand Newry still made a few chances, Kevin McArdle taking every opportunity to push forward delivering dangerous balls into the box, the home side alas unable to make the most of the opportunities.

Limavady doubled their advantage after 29 minutes thanks to a contentious penalty, a decision made by referee Peter McGrath in conjunction with his linesman Andrew Butler who both judged that Carville had fouled Limavady centre forward Hume contrary to the opinion of most present and video evidence which showed that Carville had nicked the ball from Hume’s toe with little contact made with the attacker. That however mattered little to Limavady or Hume who dusted himself down to place the spot kick into the corner of the net despite Maguire’s valiant attempt to save. No doubt aggrieved Newry responded in the best way although it did take until the brink of half time before Carville grabbed that precious goal and it was evident straight from the restart that Newry, led by Carville, meant business in the 2nd half. However. with Limavady retreating to the Newry half and determined to waste every second possible. clear cut chances were hard to come by. On the hour mark Keith Johnston raced clear of the Limavady defence, momentarily appearing to be through on goal only to be forced wide, his cross ball into the box hacked clear by the Limavady keeper. Newry kept probing and really should have equalised on 70 minutes, Carville nodding down a Walker free kick to Johnston who hit the base of the post with Wells beaten, Stephen Hughes falling as he struck the rebound, the ball beating the crossbar from close range.

The home sides dominance got due reward on 77 minutes when a rare Limavady attack was crowded out by the Newry defence leaving room up field for their forwards to exploit. Again Carville was involved, controlling a long pass from John Boyle on his chest while turning to once more release Johnston. While the winger was disposed he had done enough to unsettle the Limavady backline, the ball falling perfectly for Jimmy Walker who smashed his shot from the edge of the box too powerfully for Limavady keeper Paul Wells who got both hands to the ball but was unable to stop it from nestling inside the post.

It was now a matter if Newry could kick on and snatch a winner or if all out Newry attack would leave them vulnerable at the back. In the end neither happened and so the game ended in a draw which ensured that Newry’s unbeaten run now stretches to 9 games with manager Darren Mullen immediately setting his sights on next Friday night’s game at Dergview “Whilst it was a chance missed to move closer to the leaders it’s a game that we could easily have lost due to our poor first half performance. We didn’t look anything like the side that beat Ballyclare last week and started the game with a severe lack of intensity and purpose. As I’ve said on numerous occasions if you don’t keep your standards up in this league you will be punished and that’s exactly what happened. That said their second goal was never a penalty and as per several performances from the match officials this season it certainly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The second half was a different affair where we dominated possession but just couldn’t find a winner. Limavady did what plenty of teams will do and have done this season in keeping men behind the ball but it’s up to us to break them down. For that to happen we needed pace and movement which didn’t happen in the first half but was better in the second. Two months ago I doubt if we had been 2 0 down we may not have come back and may well have been happy with a draw but we are a completely different team now and our disappointment shows how far we have progressed. That’s 9 games we are unbeaten now and by anyone’s standards that’s an impressive run. What we need to do now is learn from our mistakes and take the second half positives into next Friday night’s game away to Dergview.”

Newry City’s next game is on Friday 1st December away to Dergview. Then on Tuesday 5th December Newry host Banbridge Town in the Semi Final of the Mid Ulster Cup, kick off 7:45.
Newry City: Maguire, McArdle, M Hughes, King, Boyle, McCann, Walker, Carville, McCabe, Johnston, S Hughes, Subs: Havern, McKeown, Cunningham, Richmond, Mullen.

Stepping up into any division is never easy but it’s fair to say both Limavady and ourselves have adapted well to Championship football. This will be the 5th time in 12 months that we have played each other and with 2 wins apiece I’m sure there won’t be a lot between the sides. Our own run of form has seen us take 19 points from a possible 21 which by anyone’s standards is a terrific sign of progress. Anyone who has played us during this run can have no complaints as we have been dominant in many of those games and probably should have scored more in some of them. Our fitness levels have also been mentioned and that comes back to the amount of work the players are putting in on the training pitch. We know that the minute we stop working either on the training pitch or on match-days we will be punished by any team in this league.

Last weekend was the first weekend that all 4 teams in the club have won on the same weekend. Whilst it’s normally the senior team who grab the headlines, all of the players and coaching staff within those squads deserve credit for the progress they have been making. Recent squads have shown that those younger lads who have been doing well will get an opportunity to join the senior squad. The challenge for them now is to continue that progress as they are the future of our club.

I have always been appreciative of our extremely loyal and ever increasing fan base but one fan deserves special mention this weekend. Daniel Murphy celebrates his 30th birthday this weekend and I’m sure it will be well attended by everyone at the club. He never misses a game home or away and along with his very special mother Mary deserve special praise for their dedication and support. Hopefully we can get the 3 points that will make his birthday even more enjoyable.

Yours in sport,

Darren.