McNickle’s double sees impressive Newry City defeat league leaders Bangor

Newry City put in their best performance of the season tonight, as they defeated league leaders Bangor 2-1 at The Showgrounds.

In the first half, Darren Mullen’s side looked much more confident on the ball, assured in defence and relentless in their press. In the second half, they had to batten down the hatches to thwart a Bangor comeback, and they showed the required defensive grit to claim all three points.

The Newry line-up had a different complexion to it, as the boss threw all four of his January signings – Jamie Doran, Lorcan Donnelly, Tommy Taggert and Ben Harvey - in from the start. But it was Ryan McNickle – who has been Newry’s most consistent performer all season – who was the star of the show, as he added his eleventh and twelfth league goals of the season.

The first of those goals came just six minutes into the game, giving the home side a dream start. A long ball from Donnelly was flicked on by Forde, and sent him through on goal, where he kept his composure and curled past the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

On 25 minutes, he doubled Newry’s lead when they hit Bangor on the counter attack. Doran carried the ball a long distance and waited until the right moment to play McNickle in one on one, where he poked past the ‘keeper.

Bangor weren’t at the races for most of the first half, but they grew into it as the game went on and created their first chance when Tiarnan Mulvenna flashed a half volley just wide of the post. Moments later, a Reece Neal corner found striker Ben Arthurs at the back post, but his header was saved by Donnelly at point-blank range, leaving Newry 2-0 ahead at the break.

To Bangor’s credit, they came out of the changing rooms for the second half with much more energy and vigour, and began to put Newry on the backfoot. Arthurs was denied by a Harvey block and Ben Cushnie was denied by a last ditch challenge by Gavin Smith, but a Bangor goal looked on the cards.

Nine minutes into the second half they got it when half-time substitute Michael Morgan curled a peach into the top corner from just inside the box.

Newry steadied the tide in the immediate aftermath of that goal, but 15 minutes later Bangor’s Kyle Owens forced an impressive save out of Donnelly. The rebound bobbled around the Newry box and could have gone anywhere, but thankfully from the hosts’ perspective, it ended up in their goalkeeper’s arms.

Mulvenna and Morgan had half chances for an equaliser, but both players fired over the crossbar with half volley efforts. At the other end, Forde almost put the icing on the cake with a spectacular curled shot from 25 yards out, but his attempt hit the crossbar on its way over.

Bangor had one last gasp when Caomhan McGuinnes floated a ball into the box, but Donnelly made the ball his and moments later, referee Glenn Buchanan sounded the full-time whistle, much to the delight – and relief – of the bouyant Showgrounds support, after they saw their side seal an important win.

MATCH STATS

Newry City: Lorcan Donnelly, Noel Healy, Gavin Smith, Adam Carroll, Jamie Doran (Alex O’Brien 82), Ben Harvey, Lorcan Forde (Adam Dorans 90+7), Tommy Taggert (Ryan McGivern 82), Georgie Poynton, Ryan McNickle, Evan McEnteggart.

Unused subs: Conor Mitchell, Adam Salley, Seanna Foster, Jamie O’Flaherty.

Bangor: Evan Ovendale, Reece Neal, Kyle Owens, Lewis Harrison (Robert Garrett 23), Tiarnan Mulvenna (Scott McArthur 84), Ben Arthurs, Matthew Ferguson (Ben Cushnie HT), Tom Mathieson (Michael Morgan HT), Liam Hassin (Jamie McDonagh 66), Caomhan McGuinness, Jack Reilly.

Unused subs: James Taylor, Callum Boyce.

Referee: Glenn Buchanan.