United put champagne on ice

Newbuildings United...4

Ardstraw...1

NEWBUILDINGS United produced a good performance on Saturday winning easily at home to Ardstraw to leave themselves the chance of regaining their league title this weekend.

United will entertain Oxford United Stars with the knowledge that three points will see them crowned champions for the third year in a row.

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Last weekend the game started with a high tempo as the home side bossed things in possession terms with Mark Nicell pulling the strings in the midfield but just lacked that bit of quality in the final third to make it count.

Ardstraw defended in numbers and relied on the counter attack but failed to trouble the home rear guard.

The visitors continued to frustrate United, defending well to their credit and went into the interval happy to be on level terms.

The second half saw Newbuildings take control and they should have opened the scoring when Garth Falconer cut in from the right, found space inside the box but his left foot shot from 12 yards was straight at the keeper who tipped the ball over the bar.

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Gary Simpson’s side did take the lead shortly after when Falconer made a great run down the left, cut inside and squared the ball to the onrushing Stephen Curry who took one touch before drilling the ball into the far corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.

Newbuildings increased their lead and it was the two wingers Falconer and Curry who were involved again.

After good work from Falconer on the right he sent in a teasing cross which the home defence could only clear to the edge of the box where Curry was on hand to dispatch an unstoppable volley into the top corner of the net.

United were playing some great football now and they made it three when once again Falconer was the provider and after another good run down the right he squared the ball to Wayne Glenn who dispatched the ball into the back of the net from eight yards out.

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The away side did pull a goal back when they were awarded a free kick on the angle of the 18 yard box, from this their striker curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner of the net, giving McCloskey in nets no chance.

The home side continued to press forward and made sure of the three points adding their fourth goal when the ball fell to Clarke inside the box, the big striker turned and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.