Newry boss Gary Boyle laments officiating after his side falls to defeat at Loughgall

Newry City suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Loughgall on Saturday afternoon, with Ben Magee the hat trick hero for the home side.

However, post match Newry boss Gary Boyle voiced his frustrations at the officials, who refused to award his side a penalty for an apparent foul by Mark Carson on Adam Carroll inside the box, early in the first half.

"The reason given (as to why it wasn't a penalty) was 'accidental contact from behind'," said Boyle.

"Excuse me if I'm wrong, but with any contact from behind - it doesn't matter if it's on purpose or accidental - is either a free kick or a penalty depending where it is on the pitch."

On the field of play, Newry were the better side in the first half, but twice Loughgall shot stopper Berraat Turker pulled off outstanding saves, first denying a Carroll volley by somehow getting down low and pushing it away, before he got a fingertip to a well-driven shot by Georgie Poynton, who was a late addition to the starting 11 in place of Thomas Lockhart.

In the second half the action ramped up, and just three minutes after the restart, Magee got his first as he stormed clear of the Newry defence and finished past Steven Maguire.

Newry had an immediate reply when Adam Salley was picked out by a searching Adam Carroll pass, and he controlled before finishing into the bottom corner.

However, two further goals from Magee put the result beyond Newry's reach. Despite the result, Boyle's side remain ninth in the table, where they were at the start of the weekend, with just two points between themselves and the bottom two.

For full match report and more reaction from Boyle see this week's Newry Reporter - in shops Wednesday October 25!