Newcastle Nomads in derby day dream land

21 January 2015

NEWCASTLE Nomads blasted out a warning to their Senior Two title rivals with a superb win last weekend.

The Douglas Park outfit saw off the challenge of derby rivals Ballynahinch, with the victory enabling the Nomads to leapfrog their opponents to move into second place in the table.

Leaders Cliftonville will be anxiously looking over their shoulder right now and with just a few weeks of the season remaining, the Nomads are well placed to make a determined bid for the title.

Last Saturday, in bitterly cold conditions, the Nomads were forced to start without Darren Roe and Chris Ferguson, but welcomed back Gareth McGreevy, Davy Ferris and Stuart McKee.

Coach Stephen Ferris opted to make a number of positional changes with Adam McKee ping into centre back, Scott Symington moving to right back and Jason Campbell into midfield, with the home side knowing it had to win after last week's defeat to Armagh.

The Nomads started brightly and McGreevy went close with a drag flick from short corner but it was well saved by Ballynahinch 'keeper Dave Chadwick.

In the fifth minute, Alex Millar should have scored when he found himself in the circle, but when he took the ball around Chadwick he fired wide of the post.

Stuart Hunter, Lee Thomas, Ross McKee and McGreevy were running the show for the home team, creating chances for Miller but he found Chadwick on top form.

Hunter, Jason Campbell, Ross and McGreevy all went close before Hunter broke the deadlock in the 20th minute after excellent build-up play involving good work from Stuart McKee, McGreevy, Campbell and Millar.

Ballynahinch responded in a bid to get back into the game, but home 'keeper Lee Duffield and defenders Ferris, Adam McKee, Ferguson and Symington were in control.

Five minutes before the interval the visitors were awarded three short corners in a row, with Leslie Harrison seeing his three shots saved by Duffield who was having one of those games when everything went right for him.

The Nomads made a few positional changes for the start of the second period, with Symington's great tackle on the dangerous Gary Graham in the 45th minute starting the move which led to his side's second goal.

The teenage full-back fed McKee who picked out Hunter, with the ball worked to Thomas. He fed McGreevy who teed up Millar who made no mistake with a bullet strike drilled past Chadwick.

The Nomads made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. David Ross saw his shot well saved by Chadwick, but Gareth Philip collected the rebound to score.

Duffield then denied Mark and Gary Graham at the other end before Millar made it 4-0. Ferris fed McKee who slipped the ball to Ferguson who found Symington. The defender picked out McGreevy who teed up Millar again.

Stuart McKee should have made it 5-0 but was denied by Chadwick, while Campbell also went close with a rasping shot for the home side.

Ferris was forced to go off injured with seven minutes to go, with coach Hayes filling in for him. And while Ballynahinch continued to attack, the Graham brothers were again denied by that man Duffield who pulled off three more spectacular saves.

Newcastle Nomads 4

Ballynahinch 0

Senior 2

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