Killyleagh come from behind in cup derby

Killyleagh come from behind in cup derby

28 August 2013

AN Adam Neale hat-trick — his second in the space of five days — ensured Newcastle did not pull off a shock in this Border Cup opener at The Showgrounds on Saturday.

Neale pulled the YC back into it from the penalty spot before completing his hat-trick to finally see off a brave challenge from Newcastle.

But at the end it was the name of Killyleagh goalkeeper Alistair Coburn on most people’s lips, with a man of the match performance that kept his side in the tie as the Division 1B visitors threatened to overrun Killyleagh.

Coburn, signed on the eve of the season kick off by new YC manager Stephen Johnston, was the busier of the two custodians early on bringing off a stunning save to deny Chris Hogg, but he was powerless to stop Stevie O’Connor’s wonder strike giving Newcastle a fully deserved lead after just seven minutes.

Newcastle threatened to double their lead straight away, but Coburn pulled off two outstanding saves from O’Connor and Hogg.

Killyleagh were thrown a lifeline when the lively Ryan Montgomery was bundled over in the penalty area. Up stepped Neale, with all the confidence of a striker who had bagged a hat-trick in the YC’s impressive 6-1 league triumph over Dromara Village in midweek, and he made no mistake to make it 1-1.

Tim Sexton then went close for Newcastle while at the opposite end Darren McConnell came closest with Killyleagh’s best chance.

The YC failed to impress in the opening half, but after the interval they started to get on top. Neale added a second, firing past Paddy Baker, after the livewire Stevie Kennedy’s shot was parried after 56 minutes and then he completed his hat-trick eight minutes later, showing the predator’s instinct when Kennedy’s pile driver crashed off the bar. However, Newcastle complained loudly that he was in an offside position.

Newcastle refused to be beaten and impressed right to the final whistle. It took some resolute defending from YC skipper Hugh Dickson and his central partner, John Murray, and some commanding interventions from Coburn to ensure Newcastle did not make it a closer contest.

When they did get through, left back Jonny Murray hooked Jonathan Scannell’s effort clear off the line from under the crossbar.

At the opposite end Stevie Kennedy and Neale were denied by a fine save from Baker, but it would have been an injustice on Ciaran Brannigan’s Newcastle side, who on this showing, and following impressive derby wins over Saintfield and Ballynahinch United, look well set for a good season in Division !B

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Killyleagh YC 3

Newcastle 1

BORDER CUP 1ST ROUND