Newry City's good start to the season continues with comfortable win at home to Knockbreda

Newry City won consecutive games for the first time since October 2023 tonight, as they defeated Knockbreda 3-0 in the Bet McLean League Cup.

Whilst there were many new faces on display, it was two players very familiar to The Showgrounds crowd – Andrew Martin and Thomas Lockhart – who had them 2-0 up at the half-time whistle. One of the new faces Kane Rossiter made his mark in the second half however, finishing the rout with Newry’s third goal of the evening.

Whilst the goals will certainly please new manager Stuart King, so too will the display of his defence which restricted Knockbreda to precious few opportunities over the course of the 90 minutes.

Rossiter almost made a perfect start to his home debut, as he smashed a half volley towards goal in the first minute, but his effort flew just over. Declan Carville also saw a half volley fly over the bar moments later, after he connected with Cormac McNally’s cross.

Midway through the first half Newry found the opening goal when McNally picked out Martin with a corner, and he headed home from close range.

Carville almost doubled the advantage, when he used his chest to control Scott McCullough’s long ball, but his low drive whistled wide of the near post.

The Newry defence stifled the Knockbreda attack throughout the opening period and they only had one shot – a poked effort from the edge of the box by Ethan Irwin which was comfortably gathered by Jason Craughwell.

Minutes before half-time, Newry made it 2-0 when Jordan King’s cross was handled in the box by Christopher McAuley and they were awarded a penalty. Captain Lockhart stepped up from the spot, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and buried his effort into the bottom corner.

Newry almost added to their lead in the opening stages of the second half when Rossiter med an Evan McEnteggart cross with a bullet header which took the paint off the crossbar on its way over.

Rossiter’s performance deserved a goal, and he got his rewards on 62 minutes when he worked hard to knock the ball beyond his marker, got one on one and finished past Owen Sames.

The former Camlough Rovers striker very nearly added a second moments later when Carville flicked on a header and sent him in on goal, but on this occasion Sames was able to close the angle and deny him.

Lee Newell almost made the ultimate impact off the bench, as he nutmegged a Knockbreda defender and bore down on goal, but again Sames was on hand to make a save.

Knockbreda had a late half chance, but Craughwell wasn’t to be denied his clean sheet as he got down low to keep out Matthew Devlin’s effort. At the other end, Georgie Poynton tried for the spectacular as he attempted to chip Sames from the halfway line, but his shot drifted wide.

There were to be no more goals and soon after referee Sam Naylor’s whistle confirmed Newry’s place in the next round of the cup.

MATCH STATS

Newry City: Jason Craughwell, Jordan King, Andrew Martin, Declan Carville (Jack Chambers 71), Thomas Lockhart (Lee Newell 71), Shane Forbes (Keith Dalton 80), Evan McEnteggart, Kane Rossiter, Cormac McNally, Scott McCullough (Georgie Poynton 80), Manny Kaguako (Matthew Rendina 71).

Unused subs: Oisin McStay, Ryan Fearon.

Knockbreda: Owen Sames, Cormac Lawlor, Jack McCosh (William Duncan HT), Christopher McAuley (Ashton McDermott 57), Peter McDermott, Marcus Murphy (Josh Douglas 78), Tom Patchett (Matthew Devlin 78), Ethan Irwin (Callum McVeigh 57), Ruairi Wright, Louis Blackstock, Joel Given.

Unused subs: Benjamin Fry, Jay Boyd.

Referee: Sam Naylor.