Newry City pay the penalty and have to settle for home draw against Armagh City

Newry City had to settle for a share of the spoils this evening, as they drew 1-1 at home to Armagh City.

The early exchanges were devoid of many clear cut chances with Armagh twice firing wide from efforts outside the box via Marc McConnell and Ruairi Duffy.

At the other end, a dangerous quick counter attack from Newry finished with Lorcan Forde whipping in a cross which just missed the boot of Ryan McNickle by a matter of inches. Then, Alex O’Brien tested Armagh goalkeeper Conner Byrne with a half-volley, but Byrne was up to the task in making the save.

The breakthrough came on 27 minutes when Adam Carroll’s low cross zipped through the box and found Forde at the back post. Newry’s number 15 connected with a first-time effort and drilled into the bottom corner beyond Byrne’s outstretched hands to make it 1-0.

Newry had the last opportunity of the opening half when Salley curled an effort from just outside the penalty area. The ball bounced awkwardly in front of Byrne, but he made a good save and pushed it away.

Minutes into the second half Byrne was worked again, this time from a Ciaran O’Connor curler, but once again the keeper was on hand to save. Newry kept the pressure on Byrne’s goal from the corner, but he denied Salley’s low effort before preventing McNickle from scoring on the rebound. The opportunities kept coming for the hosts, but Gavin Smith headed wide from close range.

Armagh City then almost equalised against the run of play, but Conor Mitchell made a good save to deny Ethan Jordan’s half-volley effort, before plucking Jack Clarke’s headed rebound out of the sky.

Newry had another half chance when McNickle’s cross found Salley, but he headed over. McNickle had a chance himself when Forde turned the ball over high up the pitch, but the striker dragged his shot wide of the far post.

On 77 minutes, Armagh levelled the game when Igor Rutkowski was fouled in the box by Smith, and the same player stepped up to the spot and scored. Mitchell made contact with the ball but couldn’t prevent it from slipping under his body and into the net.

A minute later the visitors had a golden chance to go in front when McConnell laid the ball on a plate for Aaron Coogan 12 yards out from goal, but he got under his effort and sent it whistling over the crossbar.

With the full-time whistle approaching, Newry were reduced to 10 men when Forde was shown a second yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Scott McCann.

Three minutes into stoppage time, the home side thought they had won the game when O’Connor put Dualta Honney through on goal and he applied the finish, but the linesman flagged for offside, much to the disapproval of the Showgrounds crowd.

MATCH STATS

Newry City: Conor Mitchell, Darren King, Gavin Smith, Ciaran O’Connor, Alex O’Brien (Evan McEnteggart 90), Adam Salley, Adam Carroll, Lorcan Forde, Steven Ball (Jamie O’Flaherty 45+1), Stephen Moan, Ryan McNickle (Dualta Honney 76).

Unused subs: Oisin McStay, Charlie McGrath, Lee Fallon, Adam Dorans.

Armagh City: Conner Byrne, Dale Montgomery, Shea Geraghty (Dermot McCaffrey 58), Jordan King, James McCormack (Igor Rutkowski 58), Conor Mullen (Aaron Coogan 74), Ruairi Duffy (Nooem Oladunjoye 58), Jack Clarke (Shea Conway 58) , Ethan Jordan, Marc McConnell, Scott McCann.

Unused subs: Ugochukwu Anny-Nzekwue, Lee McMenemy.

Referee: Mark Milligan