Dougherty nets another treble

Saintfield...0

Newbuildings United...6

Newbuildings United progressed to the third round of the Intermediate Cup with a comfortable 6-0 win away to Saintfield setting up an intriguing double header clash with Belfast amateur side Dunmurry Rec in the Intermediate Cup and the fifth round of the Irish Cup a week later.

The Waterside side men’s latest victory was recorded on a tricky surface and wintry conditions making it nine wins in a row in league and cup.

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United piled the pressure early on with Dougherty and Falconer bringing saves out of the home keeper. The home keeper received all the plaudits with an outstanding performance which kept the score out of double figures.

He was first beaten when Wallace hit a ferocious shot from 30 yards, it crashed off the bar and bounced out but Dougherty was first to react and head the ball past the keeper and into the empty net.

The home team were reduced to punting a high ball into United’s defence but never got any joy out of Moore and Blair. It was the away team who were creating the dangerous chances with Falconer shooting straight at the keeper and Curry unable to finish an easy chance from close range.

Wesley Robinson’s side got their second from a quick throw in and moving the ball quickly resulting in Brian Scanlon being denied by the Saintfield keeper but striker Beattie reacted quickest to the rebound and tapped the ball into the unguarded net. Saintfield did have a chance against the run of play when their striker was played through but Thornton advanced quickly to smother his shot at the edge of the box.

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Newbuildings introduced Robinson and Scanlon at half time and this only served to dish out more misery on the home team. The next 45 mins were more or less played out in Saintfield’s half.

With Scanlon and Wallace pulling the strings in midfield more goals followed, Utd broke on the right and an inch perfect ball from Robinson in behind the home defence saw Dougherty run in on goal and slip the ball past the onrushing keeper.

Dougherty, who was a constant thorn in the home rearguard’s side all day, completed his sixth hat-trick of the season when some brilliant interplay from Wallace, Scanlon and Robinson set it on a plate for the big striker with a low cross from the right allowing the in form forward to drill the ball home from close range.

Robinson then got in on the scoring act when once again Wallace was involved on United’s right wing, Dougherty sent over a low cross for Robinson who buried the ball home from 6 yards out.

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Dougherty almost got his fourth when Wallace sent in a ball from United’s right flank again, Dougherty met it first time only to see Saintfield’s stopper some how get finger tips on it and deflect it onto the cross bar.

The visitors finished the scoring when Scanlon made a 40 yard run to get on the end of a low cross once again from the right drilling the ball back across the goal with a left foot shot and into the far corner of the net.

The club would like to wish players, staff and the band of supporters, affectionately know as the NBE, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.