More problems for leaky Newry City defence as they ship eight goals away to Glentoran

It was a day to forget for Premiership strugglers Newry City, who took their goals conceded tally to 74 in 29 games, with a 8-2 trashing at the hands of Glentoran.

Having kept a clean sheet away to Loughgall on Tuesday night, one could be forgiven for thinking that Newry had turned a corner defensively, but every time the Glens attacked on Saturday afternoon it looked as though the ball was going to end up in the net. And unfortunately for the visitors, all too often it did.

Glentoran showed their quality and their ability to hurt Newry early on, when Jonathan Russell brought the ball forward on the counter attack and picked out the run of David Fisher with a superb through ball. Fisher did the rest, as he blasted home past Conor Mitchell in a one on one to make it 1-0 after just four minutes.

However, Newry weren’t behind for long, as they fashioned a response six minutes later. From a free kick wide on the right wing, Georgie Poynton played a picture-perfect cross, from which Adam Salley couldn’t miss, and he volleyed into the net from close range.

The action was frenetic and Glentoran almost went back in front again moments later, when Aidan Wilson connected with a corner. He headed into the turf and seemed certain to score, but Conor Mitchell somehow kept out the shot at full stretch with an outstanding save.

But the home side wouldn’t have to wait too much longer for their second goal, as on 19 minutes a quick passing move finished with Fisher playing Junior Uzokwe into the left channel, and his low cross was finished between the legs of Mitchell by Bobby Burns from six yards out.

Eight minutes later, Glentoran made it a two-goal lead when Russell’s long throw was fumbled by Mitchell. In a goal-line scramble, Burns’ initial effort was blocked by Noel Healy, but Daire O’Connor was there to pick up the pieces, and he smashed his shot into the roof of the net.

On 36 minutes, it was 4-1 when Fisher’s free kick was nodded on by a wide-open Marcus Kane and tapped into the net by a wide-open O’Connor.

In first half stoppage time, Fisher had his second and Glentoran had their fifth. His initial effort was a header from a corner which came back off the crossbar. However, he got a second bite of the cherry when O’Connor recovered the rebound and played a ball right across the face of the Newry goal. None of the defenders dealt with the danger and Fisher tapped the ball into the net to widen the gap to four.

Nine minutes after the restart the onslaught resumed, when O’Connor scored his hat trick goal in style. After receiving a lay off on the edge of the box, he used the outside of his boot to curl a shot beyond the outstretched Mitchell and into the far top corner.

Salley almost got his second when Ciaran O’Connor picked the pocket of Seanan Clucas and played him through on goal, but he was denied by the onrushing Aaron McCarey.

The Glens’ seventh goal came after Junior was fouled in the penalty area by Ryan McGivern. The same player stepped up to the spot, and he dispatched a powerful shot past Mitchell.

With the game petering out, Newry did grab a second goal when Wilson put his goalkeeper under pressure with a forceful back pass. McCarey botched his clearance, and Adam Carroll profited by nipping in and finishing into an empty net.

However, the action wasn’t over and two minutes into stoppage time, Rangers loanee Charlie Lindsay rounded out the scoring with a curled finish in the middle of the Newry box.

The result now extends Newry’s winless streak to 17 games in the league.

For full match report and reaction see this week’s Newry Reporter – in shops Wednesday February 21!

MATCH STATSGlentoran: Aaron McCarey, Marcus Kane, Luke McCullough (Kirk McLaughlin 77), Aidan Wilson, Bobby Burns, Daire O’Connor, Fuad Sule (Charlie Lindsay 59), Seanan Clucas (Shay McCartan 67), David Fisher (Joshua Kelly 67), Jonathan Russell, Chukwuemeka Uzokwe (James Singleton 77).

Unused subs: Oliver Webber, Aaron Wightman.Newry City: Conor Mitchell, Darren King (Alex O’Brien 65), Noel Healy, Ryan McGivern, Fra McCaffrey (Paul McGovern 73), Ciaran O’Connor, Adam Salley (Adam Carroll 65), Liam Bagnall (Donal Scullion 23), Lorcan Forde, Georgie Poynton, Jamie McDonagh (John McGovern 73).

Unused subs: Steven Maguire, Brandon Doyle.

Referee: Ross Dunlop.