Newbuildings battle for draw

Coagh United...1

Newbuildings United...1

NEWBUILDINGS United travelled to Coagh for their sixth round JJB Sports Irish Cup clash with by around 300 supporters and they were not to be let down as the Northern Ireland Intermediate side proved more than a match for their more senior opponents.

Right from the start the Waterside men showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers and gave as good as they got as both teams searched for the opening goal.

It was the visitors who struck first when Peter Blair played a great 30 yard ball over the top for the on-rushing Paul McIvor who controlled well before looking up and shooting past the advancing Yorke into the far corner of the net, to spark wild scenes amongst the travelling fans.

The old saying that teams are at their most vunerable just after they score was proved right again on this occasion when the home side equalised four minutes later.

The ball found right winger Stephen Parks who turned inside and sent in a left foot shot which Conor Thornton seemed to have covered until it hit the outstretched foot of Graham Moore and went flying into the roof of the net.

Coagh began to get a grip on the game now and forced a number of corners but the Newbuildings rear-guard held firm.

The home side had the next chance when the Newbuildings defence missed a header and the ball fell to the home forward just to the right of the box but his angled shot was well blocked by the advancing Thornton.

Wesley Robinson’s side had a glorious opportunity to go in front when a cross from the left found Curry but he blazed his volley over the bar from six yards out.

The same player had another chance when he recieved the ball at the edge of the box but his shot was well blocked but the rebound fell to Curry again and with Wallace well positioned inside the box and unmarked, but Curry’s pass was just too strong and went out for a goal kick.

The second half saw Newbuildings on the front foot and they began to put pressure on the Coagh defence but were unable to create a real scoring opportunity.

Dougherty had a chance when he collected the ball 25 yards out, outpaced the defender before sending in a powerful left foot shot which the home stopper saved well diving to his left.

As the game went on both teams began to tire due to the heavy underfoot conditions. Coagh had a great chance to win it at the end when the ball fell to Mark Scott who cut in off the right to sent a 30-yard pile-driver narrowly past the far post.

A draw was probably a fair result and both sides will battle it out again next Monday, at Hagan Park again (KO 2pm), this is scant reward for the Newbuildings players who worked their socks off but they will travel back full of confidence knowing that they are more than capable of winning the tie and they hope to have Gareth Falconer available after he missed this game due to injury.

Coagh United: J Yorke, S McGeown, A Thornton, D Calderwood, J Ferguson; S Park, J Black, C Donaldson, J Gillespie; M Dallas, M Scott. Subs: G Clarke for Black (69); B Anderson, L Hunter, D Noble & G McKenzie (not used).

Newbuildings United: C Thorton, G Moore, P Blair, J Moore, K King; D Scanlon, B Scanlon, P McIvor, S Curry, RL Dougherty, S Wallace. Subs: N Robinson for S Curry (62); Ferguson for S Wallace (66); Nicholl for D Scanlon (80); C Beattie & T Thompson (not used).

Referee: A Davey (Bangor).

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