Points don’t come easy on the tight confines at Glen Road Heights, the home of Belfast side Sport & Leisure Swifts and that’s why Newry manager Darren Mullen was so pleased with his sides 1-0 win on Tuesday night to finish off their pre-split set of fixtures “Sometimes you have to grind out wins and that was certainly the case tonight. It was as tough a game as we’ve had all season and we rode our luck at the start of the second half. We knew it was going to be a battle with plenty of long balls into the box and we had to stand up to that especially against the wind in the first half. We had a few really good chances in the first half but it was a scrappy game at times and we needed to stay disciplined. The longer the game went on the more dangerous we looked and thankfully we got our rewards. I think the term applicable is ‘winning ugly’ and its games like this that show the mentality of the squad. We know we will play a lot better in games but considering the conditions and the opposition it was a really satisfying win and sets up nicely for the run in.”

Faced with a completely different type of challenge in both the makeup of the opposition and the narrow playing field the Newry travelling support could never have expected a repeat of the footballing excellence which their team displayed against Limavady on Saturday. Indeed, the only similarity between the games was that there was another 3 points to be won. And so the scene was set for a hard-fought battle and that’s exactly how things panned out. It took Newry a full 15 minutes to threaten the Swifts goal, Decky Carville spotting the wide run of Kevin McArdle, his low cross to the back post carrying too much pace for Mark Hughes who could only deflect the ball over the crossbar.

At the other end the Swifts game plan was to bombard the Newry penalty area with as many high balls as possible, the handling of Newry keeper Kieran Gordon and the aerial ability of John Boyle, Paddy Mooney and Mark Patton amongst others coming to the fore as the home side made use of a stiff breeze to test the Newry defence with long throw ins and corners. Clear scoring chances were to be at a premium and on the half hour mark one came the way of Newry, Carville’s hard work forcing a poor defensive clearance, the ball falling to Jimmy Walker who immediately swung the ball into Mark McCabe, his downward header forcing a fine reaction safe from the Swifts keeper Michael Magill ensuring the sides went into the break level.

Newry were caught cold at the start of the second half with two excellent chances coming the way of the home side. The half was only a couple of minutes old when a long kick out was helped on by Kevin McGovern into the path of centre forward Anthony McConnell. With only Gordon to beat McConnell chose to shoot early as the Newry keeper advanced from his line, the ball bouncing wide of Gordons far post. Newry were finding it difficult to create much going forward, the narrow pitch helping the home side close down Newry’s passing brand of football although Mark Hughes did create a chance for himself on 55 minutes cutting in from the left wing before trying his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which failed to trouble the keeper.

On the hour mark McConnell once more got behind the Newry defence, this time fed by Darren Gallagher again the striker failed to find the target with only Gordon to beat. The Newry keeper did come to his sides rescue minutes later when a long ball from Pierce Tully found McGovern in space on the right wing, McGovern taking a touch before blasting his shot to the near post, Gordon pulling off a fine diving save to push the ball into his side netting. And Gordon was soon back in the thick of the action with a sharp reaction stop to a close-range header from Ryan Burns, Patton winning the aerial battle to complete the clearance. At this stage Newry began to get the better of things and came close to scoring after 70 minutes when Patton’s header found Mark McCabe, McCabe embarking on a solo run which ended with a low shot across goal which had to be turned behind for a corner at the far post.

 

The Newry striker had better luck minutes later, Hughes skipping inside his marker before firing in a low shot from outside the box. When Swifts keeper Magill failed to hold onto the ball Keith Johnston was first to the loose ball hooking it back across goal perfect for Mark McCabe to finish to put Newry a goal up. And that’s how the game finished despite the best efforts of the home side who threw everything at Newry but never really looked like winning an aerial battle with a solid Newry defence bolstered by Patton and Man of the Match Decky Carville.

Newry now start their post-split fixtures with the short journey to play Banbridge Town on Saturday, Kick Off 3pm. Newry travel club bus will leave The Stonebridge @ 2pm.

Newry City AFC: Kieran Gordon, Kevin McArdle, Stephen McCabe, Paddy Mooney, John Boyle, Mark Patton, Jimmy Walker, Keith Johnston, Mark McCabe, Declan Carville, Mark Hughes. Subs: Sean McMullan, Conor McCaul, Marty Havern, Ian Curran, Neil Mullen.

 

Newry City reserved their best performance of the season for the visit of league leaders Limavady Utd producing a 4-0 win to keep alive their hopes of the league title. The opening exchanges of the game were largely level, Joe McCready proving a hand full for the Newry defence the, home side twice rescued by last ditch challenges from the central defensive pair of Paddy Mooney and John Boyle.

Newry opened the scoring on twenty minutes with a goal created by right back Kevin McArdle, the defender playing a one-two with Mark McCabe to take the ball to the end line before pulling it back into the danger area, Mark Hughes the first to react to the chance with a clinical finish to put Newry 1-0 up. The home side doubled their advantage on 41 minutes, Boyle placing a long free kick into the Limavady box, Decky Carville winning the aerial battle to nod the ball down to Mark McCabe who swivelled to shoot home.

It could have been three for Newry before half time with what would have been a contender for goal of the season. Once more it was McArdle pushing forward playing a give and go with Jimmy Walker before smashing a half volley from all of 40 yards which took a splendid save from Limavady keeper Wells to tip the ball onto the inside of the post and rebound to safety to leave the half time score 2-0 for Newry.

Limavady had the first chance of the second half and again it was McCready posing the threat, the striker shrugging off challenges down the Newry left before playing a ball across the face of the Newry goal, unfortunate that there was no Limavady player to turn the ball home.

Newry were quick to reply, an in-swinging corner from Jimmy Walker rebounding off the Limavady crossbar, the ball falling to Newry’s Man of the Match Paddy Mooney, his first time shot also rattling off the crossbar. The home side were very much on top with Walker and Thomas McCann pulling the strings from centre midfield. And it wasn’t long before Newry had their third, Hughes laying the ball to Keith Johnston just inside the box, the winger getting to the ball just ahead of Limavady’s Declan McKeever who took the legs from under the Newry man, referee Ben McMaster immediately pointing to the spot. This week penalty duty for Newry was given to Jimmy Walker and he made no mistake sending Wells the wrong way for goal number three.

On 65 minutes for the first time in the game Limavady got behind the Newry defence Jordan Thompson finding himself with only Kieran Gordon in nets to beat, the Newry keeper quickly off his line to block Thompsons effort with Stephen McCabe on hand to sweep up. Limavady continued to press and it took a super clearance from McCabe to clear a Conor Harkin shot off the goal line with Gordon stranded to keep the Newry sheet clean.

In the final minutes the home side capped off a fine display with goal number four, Thomas McCann slicing the Limavady defence finding Hughes wide on the left, his low ball into the six-yard box neatly turned home by Carville for a goal he richly deserved.

After the game Newry manager Darren Mullen was obviously happy with his sides display “This was a super performance from start to finish and the score line certainly doesn’t flatter us. Limavady are a very good side and are still in a very strong position but we needed this win today to keep on their tails. We were excellent all over the pitch and limited what has been the best attack in the league this season to very little. The message before the game was to get at them early and we certainly did that. Our movement, work rate and energy throughout the team was great to watch and it was a very satisfying win especially after last week’s disappointing result. We have a minimum of 6 games left and must treat each one of them like a cup final. Today’s performance has set a very high standard and we need to make sure it doesn’t drop for the remainder of those games. I would also like to mention the support that we had today which the players really appreciate and hopefully they continue to follow us in large numbers.”

Newry now travel to play Sport & Leisure on Tuesday 11^th April, kick off @ 6:30   in their last fixture before the league splits. Further announcements on post-split fixtures will be posted both on the club’s web site and on social media.

Match Day Mascot Erin Harris definitely brought the boys good luck!!

Match Highights courtesy of NCAFC TV Ally McKenzie & Tommy Harris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qr7vDtIzsc

Newry City AFC: Kieran Gordon, Kevin McArdle, Stephen McCabe, Paddy Mooney, John Boyle, Thomas McCann, Jimmy Walker, Keith Johnston, Mark McCabe, Declan Carville, Mark Hughes. Subs: Sean McMullan, Timmy Grant, Mark Patton, Marty Havern, Conor McCaul.

Limavady Utd: Paul Wells, Declan McKeever, Colin Murray, Graham Crown, John Watt, Paul Owens, Conor Harkin, Gary McFadden, Conor McCluskey, Robbie Hume, Joe McCready. Subs: Ray Kelly, Jordon Thompson, Marcus O’Kane, Conor Logue.

A clever free kick and a lot of resolute defending was the Donegal Celtic recipe which won the points at The Newry Showgrounds on Saturday. Possession wise a game from which Newry will wonder how they didn’t come away with at least a point. However, given that for almost an hour they played against ten men the Newry boys will concede that they didn’t create enough goal chances and when the best one came along, a spot kick on 75 minutes, they failed to trouble the keeper.

Newry opened much the brighter and were on top for the first 20 minutes, Mark Hughes, Decky Carville, and Mark McCabe all with half chances. They were however caught cold after 28 minutes. With a free kick deep inside the Newry half and the home side expecting a cross into the box the ball was played back to Donegal Celtic defender Karl Rossborough who, on the edge of the penalty area, took one touch to make room before drilling in a low shot which Kieran Gordon could only get a hand to, the ball hitting the inside of the far post and into the net to put DC into the lead.

On 35 minutes DC were reduced to ten men when Niall Derry was shown a 2^nd yellow card. The reduction in numbers however only deepened the visitors resolve to protect their precious goal lead. Content to give Newry possession in the middle 3^rd of the pitch DC allowed Newry only very brief glimpses of Sean McIlhone’s goal until the 75^th minute when referee William McCahon, who had made wise use of his yellow card to keep control of the game pointed to the spot for a blatant hand ball. When the experienced Mark Hughes placed his effort the wide of McIlhone’s post the Newry faithful probably felt it wasn’t going to be their day. There were further chances to grab a point, a Thomas McCann snap shot bringing a smart save from McIlhone and a hooked effort from Sean McMullan which beat the keeper but dropped the wrong side of the cross bar but try as they might the Newry boys couldn’t make that vital yard of room in a congested penalty area, DC holding on to maximum points.

‘It’s very hard to criticise the players after that game because we will play worse and win games. Once the penalty didn’t go in I knew it was just going to be one of those days and we just have to get over it very quickly. The second half was just one way traffic but we didn’t do enough to test their keeper. We created numerous chances but through a mixture of bad luck and good defending the ball just wouldn’t drop in the right place for us. As a club we are thriving being back in Irish league football and although yesterday was a setback in our aim for promotion we are ready to battle right until the last minute of this season. We are in the top six for the split which is an achievement in itself considering we are in our first season but as a group we want to push on and I’ve no doubt we will have a big say in the promotion race.’

Next Saturday, 8^th April NCAFC welcome league leaders Limavady to the Showgrounds. Kick off 3pm.

Match Highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f01UF2dKTH8

Newry City AFC: Gordon, McArdle, Boyle, Mooney, S McCabe, Patton, Hughes, McCann, Carville, M McCabe, Johnston Subs: McMullan, Curran, McCaul, Durnin, Grant.

Donegal Celtic: McIlhone, Rossborough, Burns, Wilson, Kopyt, Doyle, Derry, Monaghan, O’Neill, Hughes, Stuart. Subs: O’Connor, Feher, McVarnock, Mooreland, McClory.

Photographs courtesy of Brendan Monaghan Photography.