South Antrim 4s 1-1 Newry Olympic 2s

The Seconds began their league campaign with a well-earned point in Lisburn on Saturday, though having led for the majority of the game, they came back down the road disappointed not to have taken a win.

Despite being down to the bare bones due to late cry-offs and with defender Eddy Graham having to deputise in goal for the match, Newry began very much on the front foot and piled on early pressure, which resulted in a number of short corner awards. However, they were unable to convert any due to a mix of good South Antrim defending and wayward Newry finishing. But the opener did arrive near the end of the first quarter when Daryl Barlow’s angled pass found its way through to Scott Blakely and the pacey attacker beat the keeper to the ball to round him and then slot into the empty net.

It was no more than they deserved at that stage of the tie with Graham rarely called into action thanks to a well-organised defence, while Barlow, Mark McCullough and Blakely were the pick of the attacking players.

With just that single goal lead at half-time, Newry knew the home side would have their spell of pressure at some point and it duly arrived after the break. However, the visitors kept their clean sheet intact with Graham alert to block anything that came his way, Gareth Moffett commanding at centre-back and youngster Jake Boyd doing well at left-back with the experienced John Lawson solid on the opposite side.

Despite South coming into the game, it was still Newry who had the better chances to extend their lead and they thought they had made it 2-0 right at the end of the third quarter.

Up for a short corner, sweeper Gareth McCullough received the ball in the circle from Simon McCafferty and having held off one challenge to get his shot away and beat the keeper, McCullough though he had doubled Newry’s advantage, only for a defender to get back to stop it on the line before clearing. 

Olympic were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal early in the last quarter when they lost possession in midfield and South Antrim swept up the pitch, resulting in their centre forward squeezing the ball in at the right-hand post to make it 1-1. Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, with Newry always looking the more likely to get it, but the goal never arrived as the spoils were shared.

The Seconds have their opening home match of the season this Saturday, October 3, when they take on Instonians Thirds. 

Newry Olympic 2

Eddy Graham, Gareth McCullough, Gareth Moffett, John Lawson, Jake Boyd, Daryl Barlow, Mark McCullough, Ryan Jordan, Simon McCafferty (Capt), Corey Large, Scott Blakely, Michael McCullough