Newcastle show their prowess from set-pieces

22 October 2014

NEWCASTLE soared nine points clear at the top of the table after this hard-earned win at a windy Shimna College on Saturday.

They were given a helping hand by a benevolent United rearguard which went to sleep when defending two corner kicks and paid a heavy price for their lapses in concentration.

There was little to enthuse about over the first 15 minutes as the combatants got to know one and other in a friendly sort of a way.

There was a lot of huff and puff from sets of players with the ball being passed to death at times in lateral movements and there was no doubt that defences were on top.

Chances over the first 24 minutes were non-existent until United’s Dalton Tate turned on the style.

The exciting playmaker ghosted past two defenders on the edge of the box as he worked his way into a shooting position, but his shot low was well saved by Marc Reid.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, but it had an air of good fortune about it. Ciaran Brannigan whipped in a corner from the right flank with his loquacious left foot.

Conor Maginn got the merest of touches at the near post, but it was enough to send the ball into the six yard box with extra spin on it and before you knew it, the ball was in the back of the net with the help of a United defender’s attempted hoofed clearance on the line.

Newcastle now had the bit between their teeth, but chances were still hard to come by although Bryan McMullan saved well from Ciaran Brannigan in the 38th minute when he looked certain to score.

With 40 minutes gone young Peter Brannigan sent a raking pass from midfield out to the overlapping Chris Collins on the right, but Scotty Brashaw was on hand to clear the danger from the ensuing cross.

Gareth Scannell then wasted a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 when he got on the end of a Ciaran Brannigan corner, but he headed over from a great position.

United threw a few players forward as the first half drew to a close, but to no avail as the Newcastle back three of Scannell, Shea Curran and Danny Young defended superbly. The visitors did have a penalty shout turned down in the 45th minute when Ian McMullan went down under a challenge from Darren Travers, but the referee was unimpressed.

I’m afraid the second half was every bit as uninspiring with goalmouth action as rare as hens’ teeth. United, however, were presented with a superb chance to draw level in the 47th minute when Young was deemed to have pulled back Stuart McMullan in the box, but David Kelly’s spot kick was saved by Reid.

United paid dearly for this miss as Newcastle made it 2-0 within two minutes. A run and shot from Conor Gribben won a corner and when the ball was sent towards the back stick by Paddy Mulholland, an unmarked Gribben headed home.

The game died a death after this with Newcastle happy to see the game out. United failed to threaten a resolute Newcastle defence and even pushing Paul Dickson into an attacking role didn’t work.

If anything, it was Newcastle who came closest to scoring again when the ball fell kindly in the box for Tim Sexton, but he dragged his shot wide.

Newcastle: M. Reid, D. Young, D. Travers, S. Curran, G. Scannell, P. Brannigan, C. Collins, C. Maginn, C. Gribben, P. Mulholland, C. Brannigan. Subs: D. McKenna, D. McCartan, T. Sexton.

Ballynahinch United: B. McMullan, D. Kelly, A. Herron, S. Brashaw, P. Dickson, D. Boal, G. Crawford, D. Tate, I. McMullan, A. McCaffrey, S. McMullan. Subs: E. Majury, J. Patterson, G. Allison.

Newcastle 2

Ballynahinch United 0

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

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