South Antrim 3-6 Newry Olympic

Newry finally got their first three points of the season on the board on Saturday, as they defeated South Antrim in a high scoring game in Lisburn.

A youthful South Antrim side started brightly in the opening minutes, however Newry playing in white, soon got into their stride and pinned the home side back for long periods of the opening quarter. This pressure was soon to pay off with Ivan Steen scoring his first of the season from a short corner.

Early in the second quarter Newry made it two with neat interplay between McKnight and Greer in the middle of the field, the latter found Andrew Shekleton free in the circle, his first attempt was saved but Keith McWilliams pounced on the rebound and slotted home. South Antrim did not lie down and after a swift counter attack they were awarded a penalty stroke when Newry keeper Richard McGivern fouled the striker in the circle. The penalty converted for the Lisburn team to get one back.

At the start of the third quarter South Antrim really came flying at Newry pushing for the equaliser. However Newry’s defence stood firm, with McGivern making a great save from a short corner. Just as Newry were hit with a counter in the previous quarter, the away side countered themselves and after a pacey break down the left hand side, Corey Large was in the centre to deflect home. Colin McKnight then got on the score card when he picked up a cross from Josh Porter, swivelled at the top of the circle and fired home a rocket. As always though, South continued to fight and pulled another goal back with poor marking in the Newry defence.

With 10 minutes remaining, Keith McWilliams got his second of the game. 5-2 and you think the scoring would have been finished. South came back yet again and after a mix-up in the Newry defence they got their third. However the game was well and truly put to bed when Andrew Shekleton was in the right place at the right time, to tap home a deflected cross from Porter and seal all three points for Newry.

Newry Olympic

R. McGivern, C. Henning, C. Holmes, J. Greer (Capt), N. Davenport, I. Steen, J. Taylor, C. McKnight, J. Porter, K. McWilliams, A. Shekleton, A. Baird, C. Large, J. Gregg