Magical Maginn seals Newcastle derby win

Magical Maginn seals Newcastle derby win

16 September 2015

CHRIS Maginn broke ballynahinch United’s hearts when he headed in a free kick deep into added time to complete a marvellous comeback from Newcastle who fought track from 2-0 down.

United were the first to boss this match with Ian and Gareth McMullan causing the Newcastle defence all sorts of trouble as thrived on the left wing surges of Stuart Hunter. In the 10th minute Gareth McMullan headed the home team into the lead. Newcastle were playing some good football, but they spurned the small number of chances that came their way. 

On the half hour mark Gareth McMullan scored United’s second with another header when a deflected shot fell invitingly for him.

This was one of United’s best performances to date and as the second half beckoned the supporters were full of anticipation, however, Newcastle were in no mood to give up the challenge. 

Right from the kick off they surged forward and United’s defensive line up of Alex Miller, Scot Brashaw, Stuart McMullan and Greg Allison had to work overtime to contain them with Brian McMullan making a number of timely interceptions. 

In midfield Ben Wilson, Dalton Tate and David Kelly were under constant pressure.

Inevitably, Newcastle’s endeavour would reap its reward and it came from a right win corner which Phillip Bonny scrambled into the net around the hour mark. 

The equaliser did not come until the 80th minute when Chris Maginn weaved his way into the penalty area and fired a shot out of the reach of Brian McMullan.

Despite the pressure that they had endured, United did not lie down and the introduction of substitutes Lee Price and Ethan Majury gave them a fresh impetus in the last ten minutes when they had most of the attacking play. 

Stuart Hunter had the ball in the net, but was adjudged to be offside while Price went close and Majury headed over the bar from a corner.

The game went into added time with the referee signalling three minutes of additional time which somehow came to almost six minutes, the first four of which were spent entirely in the Newcastle penalty area. 

Newcastle were awarded a rather dubious free kick about 25 yards out and the resultant kick was floated into the penalty area and Maginn rose above the defence to head the ball into the net despite the efforts of McMullan to keep it out.

Newcastle were justifiably elated at taking all three points while United have only themselves to blame for switching off at a crucial moment, however, how the referee could almost double the additional time when there were no injuries or time wasting of any deion defies all logic.