United move into top spot

Strabane & Sion Swifts Utd.......................0

Newbuildings United................................2

WITH rivals Oxford United losing, Newbuildings moved to the top of the Intermediate league courtesy of a 2-0 win at Strabane.

With one eye on the cup match the following week manager Wesley Robinson made a couple of changes to the starting line-up.

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The match was played on a firm but bumpy surface both teams found it difficult to get their passing game going but it was the away side that settled the quicker and they had the first chance.

Good work from Chris Beattie he slipped the ball through to Ricky-Lee Dougherty who outpaced the home defence and sent a curling shot goalwards only for the advancing keeper to pull off a great save diving to his left, palming the ball round the post.

The home side almost took the lead against the run of play when their striker sent in a looping volley from outside the box but Thornton was equal to it with a great save tipping the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner there was a scramble in the box but Thornton was quick to react smothering the ball admist flying boots.

Newbuildings continued to dominate play and their next chance fell to Paul McIvor when he cut in from the right but his left foot shot was straight at the keeper.

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The visitors forced a number of corners and it was from one of these the next chance went a begging when the ball reached Kenny King inside the six yard box but his header went sailing over the bar. Newbuildings wasted another chance when following a scramble inside the home box Wes Freguson volleyed over from eight yards out. The two sides went into the interval all square.

The second half again saw Newbuildings on top but not testing the home keeper. Gareth Falconer and Curry were introduced midway through the half and they started to cause problems with their pace and direct running. United took the lead when a Falconer corner was flicked on by Moore and was met at the back post by King who volleyed home from close range.

The Waterside out-fit doubled their lead shortly after again from a corner when the home side failed to clear and the ball fell to King at the edge of the box and he grabbed his second of the game with a low left foot shot which went flying in to the back of the net giving the keeper no chance.

Newbuildings almost made it three near the end when Curry broke down the right and he sent in a low cross which was met first time by Brian Scanlon but his shot went narrowly wide.

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Newbuildings now look forward to next week’s sixth round Irish Cup game away to Coagh Utd knowing that although they are the underdogs, they have nothing to lose and in a one off game anything can happen.

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