Magee’s brace lifts Dalzell Cup

4 January 2017

NEWCASTLE Swifts unleashed lethal weapon James Magee on Annalong and he duly delivered with an unerring brace to wrestle the Toals Bobby Dalzell Cup away from the holders at Meadowvale on Boxing Day.

Magee and strike partner Conor Gribben saw little of the ball over the 90 minutes, but they utilised what possession they did get and made Annalong pay for a host of wasted opportunities, especially in the first half.

Annalong started on the front foot and with six minutes gone carved out the first real opening when Leslie Maybin squared the ball across the face of the six yard box for Steven Burden, but his strike from close in was brilliantly smothered by Aidan Small.

Ten minutes later, the same duo sliced their way through the Newcastle back four, but Maybin shot tamely at a relieved Small with the goal at his mercy.

Newcastle began to put a few passes together and somewhat against the run of play, took a 23rd minute lead.

Sean Paul Holland launched a free kick from inside his own half into the Annalong box. Gribben outjumped his marker and headed the ball back across goal for Magee to turn into the net with ‘keeper John Sloan stranded.

Annalong were totally unfazed by this reversal and went straight back on the offensive with Mark Newell shooting wide, but the equaliser wasn’t far away.

Almost exactly a minute after Newcastle had scored, Gregory Forsythe threaded the ball into the path of Ryan McMurray.

Annalong’s lone striker hadn’t a great deal on when he received the ball, but he put on the burners and stormed into the box before beating Small with a clinical finish and make it 1-1.

McMurray, who was a constant threat to Newcastle, then had a shot deflected for a corner before Sloan saved comfortably from a Gribben free kick.

As the first half drew to a close it was Annalong who held the upper hand with McMurray leading the charge. He had a shot saved by Small before he went down in the box under a challenge from Pearse McCarthy, but referee Dee Laverty was unimpressed and waved play on.

Newcastle tightened up considerably after the break, ensuring the game became bogged down in a dour midfield battle.

Chances were few and far between at either end, but it was Annalong who continued to look the more dangerous side in attack.

Newcastle manager Paddy Baker realised he had to do something and quickly as the game seemed to be drifting away from his side. He went for the jugular by bringing on Ryan Kidd and Felix Valentine for Ciaran Keenan and Jamie Kelly.

It took them a few minutes to get to the pace of the game and when they did, it was like a shot in the heart for Annalong.

Kidd hugged the line to accept a throw in from McCarthy, swept past Darren Hyland on his way into the box and intelligently set-up Magee with a perfectly-weighted pass for his second goal.

Annalong threw caution to the wind and went in search of an equaliser, but it just wouldn’t come. McMurray did have the ball in the net in the 87th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Annalong pushed and pushed, but Newcastle held on for a hard earned win, the club’s first Bobby Dalzell Cup success since 1987.

Newcastle Swifts: A Small, P McCarthy, J Kelly, G Scannell, S P Holland, S Kearney, N Corr, J Magee, C Gribben, C Keenan, D Acton. Subs; R Kidd, F Valentine, S McKibbin, C Rice, L Moore.

Annalong Swifts: J Sloan, G Forsythe, D Hyland, R Gordon, A Nugent, J Gilchrist, L Maybin, S Burden, M Newell, R McMurray, J McCulla. Subs: A McAllister, P Heelham, A Beck, R Newell, G Graham.

Newcastle Swifts 2

Annalong Swifts 1

BOBBY DALZELL CUP FINAL

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