Fourths take the spoils in a feisty encounter with Newry

Newry Thirds 0

Anyone following the Fourths season last year will know just how fierce the rivalry between South and Newry Thirds. This feisty encounter was no different.

With many of the Fourths players unavailable the remainder of the squad had to really pull together and grind out a performance.

It was only 15 minutes into the game when a Newry player reacted to a challenge in the 25, starting a large scuffle between almost every player on both teams, it took both umpires and captains to break it up before a heavy warning was handed out. The rest of the first half passed with only a few great saves from the Fourths stand in keeper.

Into the second half and things really started to get going, South were creating chances, Newry were breaking away and the game was becoming really open. Then on one of the South attacks, a short corner was awarded to the home side and the shot was stopped on the line by a Newry foot. A penalty flick was then awarded. Jonny McBride stepped up and slammed it into the top corner. 1-0 to the Lisburn men. Newry then tried hitting back straight away by one man attempting to dribble through the whole team, he was tackled almost straight away and South led a ruthless counter attack down the left hand side with McBride and Chris Moulden playing some lovely hockey before laying a beautiful ball across the front of the Newry goal to set up a great reverse finish from Jonny Cahoon to bag his first goal for the club.

Newry then received a penalty flick of their own after a short corner clipped Smylie’s foot on the line as he tried clearing it. But his skin was saved by fantastic block by Fourths keeper Andy Cameron who got man of the match for all his short corner and flick saves.

Final score was 2-0 to the South men to bring them back to winning ways. Thanks to Andrew Brown for umpiring.

Thank you to South’s Sponsor of the Month, Woodland Financial Planning.