Newcastle FC get off to slow start but finished in style against Drumaness Mills Reserves
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Premier Division, League Match, Venue,
Venue: Donard Park Newcastle,
Final score: Newcastle 6 0 Drumaness Mills Reserves.
Newcastle Swifts were on a roll against Drumaness Mills Reserves at Donard Park in this end of season league match.
From the whistle Newcastle pressurised the young Drumaness team and Shea Baker was spearheading the attacks.
Drumaness did have a spell when they were pushing forward well and looked to threaten the Newcastle goal on a number of occasions. Newcastle were not fired up at this early stage and made little progress towards the Drumaness goals.
The Newcastle’s Shea Baker broke forward and made the first real threat to keeper Tomasz Wasowicz. But Drumaness bounced back challenging.
Then Newcastle’s left winger Reece McAreavey make a useful lunch up the wing, and eventually Baker got the ball past keeper Wasowicz to open the scoring for Newcastle despite the run of play in the 24th minute.
And just 7 minutes later McAreavey made a lightning break and took the goal well.
Drumnaess tried to fight back but they were now fighting a rearguard action. Newcastle then stepped up their game attacking more and looked more effective as a team as the game wore on.
Daniel Cunningham had a good break taking on the defenders then winger Jonathan Boyle hit on target but Wasowicz made an excellent save. And shortly afterwards, he hit another solid volley but again the keeper blocked the shot.
Just before the whistle to end the first half, Baker was almost through on a run but Wasowicz again made a crucial save.
Into the second half, Drumaness came out fighting and Shea Fitzsimons received a pass through from Timothy Sexton who almost scored.
Both teams were giving their all but the game turned quickly as Newcastle eventually took control.
On 70 minutes, Baker ran through the Drumaness defence and found space to shoot putting Newcastle 3 goals to the better.
It was an uphill struggle for the younger Drumaness squad, a learning experience as many of them were drawn from the U17 and U18 squads.
Baker was a force to be reckoned with and drove heard at the Drumaness back line. Then the 4th goal for Newcastle came when Daniel Cunningham struck from the middle of the box.
Baker nailed another goal his-hat-trick on 86 minutes as the game was ending – McAreavey had chipped the ball and sub Stephen Young got his head to it but it was Baker who finished it off clinically.
But he was not done yet and scored again (his fourth) on the whistle on 90 minutes after receiving a long pass into the box clocking up 4 goals in total.
This was a good day at the office for Newcastle Swifts. Drumaness did make plenty of positive runs and put in the effort but it just was not their day.
Ardglass FC are topping the table on 37 points with Strangford next on 24. Newcastle Town Swifts are sitting on 24 points too and Drumaness Mills in 4th place are on 20 points.
Don’t miss the NFU Harry Clarke Cup Final on Monday 21st April at 1.30pm Kick off at Meadowvale in Drumaness between Downpatrick FC and Ardglass FC.
Newcastle Town Swifts: 1 Orran Slan (GK)2 Curtis McAteer 3 McKenzie Valentine 4 Conor Hayes 5 Joshua Stanley (C) 6 Zach Curran 7 Jonathan O’Boyle 8 Timothy Sexton 9 Shea Baker 10 Daniel Cunningham 11 Reece McAreavey. Subs 12 Joel McNerlin 14 Mark Curran and 15 Stephen Young.
Drumaness Mills Reserves: 1 Tamasz Wasowicz 2 Callum Taylor 3 Ethan McQuoid 4 Adam Patterson 5 Jaiden Murdock 6 Ryan Cochrane 7 Gavin McEvoy 9 Shea Fitzsimons 10 Xavier Rooney 11 Rory McQuoid (C). Subs: 12 McAleanan 14 Conor Murphy 15 William Moore.
