Newry City miss chance to win their game in hand away to Loughgall

Newry City have closed the gap on Ballymena United from six points to five with a 0-0 draw away to Loughgall, but they would have left Lakeview Park feeling that they had a chance to claim the victory.

Adam Salley was denied from the penalty spot early in the game, before twice defensive errors from the home side gifted Newry chances, but they couldn’t profit on either occasion.

Newry’s defence has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, with 66 goals shipped in 27 league games, but tonight they looked structured, disciplined and barring a few chances, prevented Loughgall from testing Conor Mitchell too much.

But when Mitchell was needed, he pulled off a superb save in the last five minutes to deny danger man Benji Magee.

All square in the rain

Newry had a massive chance to go in front when they were awarded a penalty 16 minutes into the game, as the referee deemed Nathaniel Ferris to be have been too forceful in his aerial challenge with Donal Scullion.

Salley stepped up to the spot, but his shot was kept out by a strong Berraat Turker save.

Loughgall had a major chance of their own 10 minutes later, when Tiernan Kelly sent Nathaniel Ferris down the right wing. His low cross was met at the back post by Leon Boyd, who somehow failed to convert, smashing his effort over from close range.

Five minutes before half-time Loughgall’s Ferris was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch, as having received a yellow card for his earlier foul on Scullion, he avoided a second yellow despite catching Newry goalkeeper Conor Mitchell with a high boot.

Loughgall had the last chance of the half when Pablo Andrade’s ball found Boyd just inside the area. He set himself up on his right foot, but his shot was blocked by Barney McKeown, who was excellent in the centre of Newry’s defence.

Minutes into the second half, once again a booked Loughgall player committed a foul but wasn’t given their marching orders, as Luke Cartwright brought Salley to the ground off the ball, but wasn’t shown a second yellow, much to the bemusement of the Newry players and supporters.

Midway through the second half, a moment of madness from Turker almost gifted Newry goal. With Newry on the break, the goalkeeper made the rash decision to come storming 40 yards out of his goal. Although Brandon Doyle beat him to the ball and rounded him, Loughgall were able to get numbers back and eventually block Ciaran O’Connor’s shot as the ‘keeper raced back.

Although clear cut chances were at a premium for most of the half, the final minutes of the game were manic, as both sides had their chances to claim the points.

On 82 minutes, Loughgall had a golden chance to claim the winning goal when Benji Magee overturned the ball high up the pitch and squared for Ryan Waide. However, with the goal at his mercy, he couldn’t make clean contact on the ball and Conor Mitchell saved.

Minutes later, Magee must have thought he had won the game when he showed silky skills and skipped past Liam Bagnall and Darren King, but new goalkeeper Mitchell proved his worth as he dove to his right and pulled off an outstanding save.

Then, Loughgall were let off the hook with another moment of madness, when left back Jamie Rea sold his goalkeeper short with a pass back and was intercepted by Fra McCaffrey. McCaffrey was now one on one with Turker, but he tried to take it around the shot stopper and was dispossessed.

That was Newry’s final chance, and they now begin preparations for a tough away trip to Glentoran this Saturday.

MATCH STATS

Loughgall: Berraat Turker, Jamie Rea, Oran Brogan, Tiernan Kelly (Jordan Gibson 75), Pablo Andrade, Nathaniel Ferris (Ryan Waide 56), Robbie Norton (Alan Teggart 56), Luke Cartwright, Benji Magee, Caolan Loughran, Leon Boyd (Caolan McAleer 75).

Unused subs: Daniel Devine, Mark Carson, James Carroll.

Newry City: Conor Mitchell, Darren King, Noel Healy, Ryan McGivern, Barney McKeown (Alex O’Brien 74), Ciaran O’Connor (Adam Carroll 83, Adam Salley, Liam Bagnall, Lorcan Forde (Jamie McDonagh 65), Donal Scullion (Fra McCaffrey 65), Brandon Doyle (John McGovern 83).

Unused subs: Steven Maguire, Paul McGovern.

Referee: Steven Gregg.