Reserves Win Again

It took both teams a while to settle on what was a tight pitch. The first real chance fell to Daniel Hughes who shot wide. Jemar Hall was starting to see a lot of the ball and was beating the left back at every opportunity. Unfortunately Newry were unable to get on the end of any of his crosses. Chris McMahon had another shot over the bar as the visitors started to take greater control of the game. Newry's patience finally paid off when a shot from Daniel Hughes hit a defender and wrong footed the keeper to make it 1 0. This was no more than Newry deserved with Banbridge failing to trouble the City defence. Newry's lead was then doubled just before the half when Neil Barr powered a terrific header past the Banbridge keeper from a great John Smyth cross. Nathan Morley-Hillen pulled off a terrific save from a long range effort to leave it 2 0 at the break.

 

Newry started the second half as they had finished the first, putting Banbridge on the back foot. Jemar Hall and John Smyth had good efforts saved with the latter hitting the bar from 25 yards. It became chance after chance but due to a mixture of good goalkeeping and poor finishing Newry couldn't add to their score. Ian Curran and Jamie Edgar formed a solid partnership at the centre of defence with Conor Sloane and Chris McMahon controlling the midfield area. Daniel Hughes had a shot cleared off the line before the same player made it 3 0 when he fired home a free kick from 25 yards out. This proved to be the final score and the win moves Newry into 2nd place with two games in hand. The lads passed the ball around very well in what proved to be a physical game. It provides good preparation for next weeks game away to Bessbrook in the quarter-final of the Mid-Ulster Shield.

 

Newry Reserves: Nathan Morley-Hillen, PJ Quigley, Jamie Edgar, Ian Curran, Owen Donaghy, Jemar Hall, Chris McMahon, Conor Sloane, John Smyth, Daniel Hughes, Neil Barr. Subs : Colin Cunningham, Jake Redpath, Stephen Annett.