Newry City remain bottom after home draw against Ballyclare Comrades

A young Newry City side – with an average age of 21 - played to a 2-2 draw at home to Ballyclare Comrades this afternoon, with all four goals coming in the opening 16 minutes.

The result means that Newry remain bottom of the table with three games to play.

Just as they did in their 3-0 victory over Ballinamallard United on Tuesday night, Newry got off to a dream start, as they had the ball in the net just four minutes into the game. A Ballyclare clearance found Jamie O’Flaherty on the edge of the box, and he hit a superb first-time pass to pick out Ryan McNickle, who finished beyond Lewis Deane.

However, things went south quickly for the home side as slack defending led to the concession of two goals in the space of three minutes.

Ballyclare’s equaliser came on 10 minutes when a long ball could have been dealt with by either Noel Healy or Tommy Taggert, but neither did and the pass found Jack Johnston, who crossed for Brandon Doyle to head home from close range.

Then, the Newry defence were caught out with another straightforward long ball, as this time Seanna Foster’s pass found Doyle all alone in behind, and he slotted past Lorcan Donnelly one on one.

But the frenetic nature of the game continued, as just four minutes after that it was 2-2. Captain for the day Georgie Poynton whipped in a free kick from deep which found Evan McEnteggart, and he headed past Deane.

The action calmed down after that, but both side had another good chance apiece before the half-time whistle. Newry were almost caught out from a long ball for the third time when Taggert failed to clear his lines, but Donnelly saved his blushes by denying Gary Warwick in a one on one.

Adam Carroll then had a chance for Newry when he was picked out at the back post by an O’Flaherty cross, but he failed to make the proper connection and headed back across goal, missing the target.

Ballyclare had the better of the early second half exchanges, as Doyle had two chances to complete his hat trick, but he was denied by Donnelly on each occasion.

At the other end, Newry’s O’Flaherty almost scored from a cross, but Comrades goalkeeper Deane tipped it over the bar.

Then, another mix up in the Newry defence allowed Alan McMurty to run free into the box, but Doyle couldn’t meet his cross. Ballyclare kept the chance alive and McMurty tried his luck from just outside the box, but Donnelly made an impressive save at full stretch to tip it around the post.

That was the last chance of the game, and the two sides had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

MATCH STATS

Newry City: Lorcan Donnelly, Noel Healy, Alex O’Brien, Adam Carroll (Dualta Honney 85), Ben Harvey (Jamie Doran 67), Tommy Taggert, Brian Healy, Georgie Poynton (Casey Smyth (90+1), Ryan McNickle, Evan McEnteggart, Jamie O’Flaherty.

Unused subs: Conor Mitchell, Charlie McGrath, Adam Dorans.

Ballyclare Comrades: Lewis Deane, Lee McCune, Lewis Tennant, Michael Leetch (Harry Adair 70), Jack Johnston, Jay Riley, Gary Warwick (Alan McMurty 70), Matthew Gorman, Max Davidson, Brandon Doyle, Seanna Foster.

Unused subs: Adam Ritchie, Jaydyn Winters, William Vance, Nathan Clarke, Theo McToal.

Referee: Richard White.