Newry City’s run of poor form continued on Saturday with visitors Lisburn Distillery leaving the Showgrounds with maximum points. The game opened slowly for both sides, the stalemate lasting until the 24^th minute when Timmy Clarke got behind the Newry defence to swing a perfect cross into the box allowing Darren Bell to get the better of two Newry defenders to place his header back over Newry keeper Peter Murphy to put the whites a goal up.

Minutes later and Clarke once more lost his marker wide on the left, this time drilling a low ball into the box which Murphy did well to deflect away with his legs. This appeared to spark some life into Newry and they almost drew level, Decky Carville breaking through the Lisburn defence before back heeling to Jimmy Walker. With his first attempt blocked Walker spotted that the Lisburn keeper Tony Galbraith had come off his goal line and curled the ball over the keeper unfortunate to see it cannon off the cross bar.

A potential game changer arrived around the half hour mark when referee David Kelly judged that Tyrell McCrory’s challenge on Thomas McCann was worthy of a straight red card. The numerical advantage initially seemed to spur Newry, Kevin McArdle pushing forward from right back to try his luck from the edge of the box, Galbraith diving to turn the ball around the post to maintain his teams lead at half time.

The second half opened with an expectancy amongst the home support that Newry’s passing game would create chances presented with a full 45 minutes against ten men. However, a well drilled Lisburn side ensured that would not be the case with goal scoring opportunities for the home side limited to a few half chances. On 50 minutes a period of patient passing saw McArdle find room on the right wing, his cross headed wide by McCann.

Faced with a stubborn defence the home side resorted to trying their luck with long balls into the Lisburn box in the hope that a knock down from Carville or Mark Patton would create an equalizer. They were however limited to half chances, a snap shot from Sean McMullan from the edge of the box and a header at the back post by Carville from a Keith Johnston cross the best they could muster. And with time running out Newry were made to pay for their lack of creativity when a loose pass out of defence was picked up by Timmy Clarke who made some ground before blasting an unstoppable shot past Murphy to double the Lisburn advantage.

The final chance of the game also went the way of the visitors and with the points already secured the travelling Lisburn supporters would not have been overly annoyed when Paul Young’s clever chip shot came back off the crossbar to leave the final score 2-0 to Lisburn Distillery.

Obviously disappointed with a second defeat in as many weeks Newry manager Darren Mullen will look for a big response from his team on Tuesday night “There’s no doubt we aren’t playing well at the minute but the only way we are going to turn it around is by working hard together. We started the game well but were poor for the remainder and didn’t deserve anything out of it. Although there are no easy games in this league we aren’t giving ourselves a chance with how we are playing. We aren’t creating enough and need to defend a lot better but the good thing is we have a chance to rectify that in what is a massive game for us on Tuesday night. We can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves and it’s now a test not only of our ability but also our character.

On Tuesday 13^th December at The Showgrounds Newry City will play Coagh Utd in the semi-final of the Bob Radcliffe Cup, kick off 8pm. On Saturday 17^th December Newry travel to play local rivals Banbridge Town, kick off 2pm. Newry City travel club bus will leave the Stonebridge at 1pm, all welcome.

Newry City AFC: Murphy, McArdle, King, McCaul, Mullen, Patton, Walker, McCann, Carville, Havern, Hughes. Subs: McMullan, Johnston, Edgar, McMahon, Curran.

It has now been confirmed that our Bob Radcliffe Cup Semi Final against Coagh Utd will take place at Newry Showgrounds on Tuesday 13th December. Kick off at 8pm. This ruling means that Saturday’s Premier Intermediate League game against Lisburn Distillery will go ahead as scheduled at the Showgrounds KO 3pm.

There were few grumbles amongst the Newry support as Bangor left The Showgrounds with a deserved 3-1 win after Saturdays match. That sentiment however related only to the destination of the points and not to the display of the home side who for the majority of the game got nowhere near the high standard that the Newry faithful have come to expect. Credit for that however must go to Bangor who looked the hungrier side throughout and to their striker Dwaine Beattie who grabbed an excellent hat trick.

The game opened with an early chance for the visitors, Dale Patton finding room inside the Newry box foiled by Peter Murphy who was quickly off his line to snuff out the threat. In reply Newry created a succession of chances. First Sean McMullan flicked a throw in into the path of Mark McCabe who stepped inside his marker before shooting for the far post, his effort touched around the post by the diving Darren Gibbons. Gibbons soon produced a repeat performance, Mark Hughes crossing for McMullan who headed back across goal, Gibbons once more pushing the ball around the post. At this stage the home side looked the more likely to score and almost took the lead on 23 minutes, Hughes again crossing from the right, this time Mark Patton unable to get his header on target.

 

The opening goal did come minutes later, Greg McCabe swinging a pin point ball into the box, McMullan once more getting his headed effort on target. This time Gibbons could only block the striker’s effort, Marty Havern the first to react to the loose ball to finish from close range. That was as good as it got for Newry as the lead did not last long, Bangor immediately replying with a move which swept the ball from defence to attack in an instant making the most of some poor Newry defending culminating with Beattie arriving at the back post to level the scores.

Newry got an early warning of the Bangor intent straight after the break, Jordan Lucas causing havoc on the right wing before drilling in a low shot which was cleared off the line by some last ditch defending from Neil Mullen. The warning was not heeded as Lucas created the opening for Bangor’s second goal with almost an hour played, once more making the most of some poor defensive play before drilling a dangerous ball across the face of the Newry goal, Beattie nipping in front of the Newry players to poke the ball home. It could have got worse for Newry were it not for Mullen once more sweeping up on the goal line to prevent goal number three.

It wasn’t all one way traffic and the home side had chances of their own not to mention at least one very valid claim for hand ball inside the box which were not spotted by the officials. However, try as they might the elusive equalizer refused to come from the opportunities Newry created. On 65 minutes Mark Patton who worked hard all day won a battle for the ball near the end line before crossing for Declan Carville who could only find Gibbons with his headed effort. On 80 minutes it was the turn of Patton to try his luck with a header from a Hughes corner, the big man unable to find the target from close range. And the Newry crowd knew it was not to be when another Hughes cross was punched out by Gibbons as far as Thomas McCann, his low shot destined for the bottom corner tipped onto the post by Gibbons for a fine save.

With time running out Newry’s Greg McCabe gave the referee little choice but to issue a straight red card for a crude challenge on Bangor’s Gerard McMullan. And with almost the last kick of the game Bangor sealed the points and Beattie his hat trick from the penalty spot, after Peter Murphy clipped the same player as he tried to go around the Newry keeper, to leave the final score 3-1 to Bangor.

A result which obviously gave Newry manager Darren Mullen cause for concern “It was a very disappointing game not just because of the result but we didn’t do ourselves justice with a poor performance. After we took the lead we needed to keep our shape to consolidate that lead but made basic errors to let them back into it straight away. We had chances to add to that goal but overall we didn’t do enough to win the game and can’t complain with the result. Bangor are a decent side who are organised and are quick on the break but we are a lot better than we showed today.

“We had five players missing today but it’s up to the other players in the squad to step up and unfortunately too many didn’t perform. As a group we will take responsibility for the performance and work hard in training to make sure we learn from it. We didn’t get too carried away with the good start we’ve made to the season and we certainly won’t dwell on this result but we need to pick ourselves up very quickly. This is a very tough league but one that we are well fit for and next week’s game against Lisburn Distillery can’t come quick enough.’

Newry’s next game is on Saturday 10^th December at home to Lisburn Distillery, KO 3pm.

Newry City AFC Team: Murphy, G McCabe, King, Mooney, Mullen, Patton, Hughes, Carville, McMullan, Havern, M McCabe. Subs: Johnston, Edgar, McMahon, McCaul & McCann.

Bangor FC Team: Gibbons, G Beattie, Calvert, Long, Mugrew, Justin, Lucas, Armstrong, Patton, D Beattie, McMullan. Subs: Knipe, Craig, McArthur, Fitzimmons, McGrath.