Newcastle FC facing relegation after drawing with Dunmurry Rec
Newcastle FC’s fate was hanging in the balance on Saturday as they took on bottom of the Division 1B rivals Dunmurry Rec that proved to be an interesting and at times a fiery affair writes Jim Masson.
Seasiders Newcastle really needed the points to have any hope of staying afloat in Division 1A for next season but a draw failed to cut it.
They home side started well showing their determination and played excellent attacking football. As Newcastle made an early charge at the Dunmurry goal, keeper Russell Eagleson actually dropped the ball and it nearly cost him a goal.
But Dunmurry battled their way back into this competitive match as Dunmurry too were potentially staring down the jaws of relegation.
Gareth Johnston made a powerful volley for Dunmurrry by Newcastle Jack McLaughlin gathered it up well.
Then as the sea-siders broke forward, Leigh Moore opened the scoring for Newcastle injecting a bit more confidence into his side.
Dunmurry livened up and minutes later Johnston made a terrific volley low at the left hand post but it was well met by keeper McLaughlin pushing it out for a corner.
Then as the ball sailed in to the keeper’s box, on 10 minutes a header from Ryan Wilson down to the bottom of the goal saw Dunmurry equalise.
Newcastle pushed back again and eventually the pressure paid of when left winger Moore was taken down in the box and a penalty awarded.
Up stepped Sean Paul Holland and he drove the ball into the back of the net well on 23 minutes.
Then Dunmurry fought back once more and were on a roll a short time after Ryan Wilson got a good bounce in the goal area and made it 2-2 slotting the ball into the Newcastle net.
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But not to be outdone, Newcastle came back attacking and a goal from Philip Bonny secured their advantage in the first half.
Both teams were fired up at the restart to keep out of relegation and it was Newcastle who struck next in the 25th minute
Newcastle had a near miss when Zak Curran tore into the box but his shot on target was deflected by a defender’s leg going out for a corner.
Then Newcastle’s Holland headed at the goal and Eagleson pushed the ball out and Andrew Watson took a shot but te keeper help it well.
Then Dunmurry piled forward and Karl McCleave found space to knock the ball through a gap in the Newcastle defence to level the match once again at 3-3.
The second half was a stark contrast to the first half where play was fairly fluent and there were only a few fouls. Play got physical, and the game stopped and started as substitutions were made.
Early on, Moore made a cracking shot but its was keeper Eagleson’s day on form and he saved the ball well.
Then Dunmurry broke forward well but defender Conor Hayes made a crucial intervention.
Andrew Latimer missed a fairly easy goal as he chipped the ball over the Newcastle top bar at close quarters.
Newcastle got back onto the front foot again pressing Dunmurry, but another goal was not forthcoming despite the good sustained attacking by Newcastle.
A long kick from Bonny just inside the half way line almost beat the Dunmurry keeper who had to stretch every millimetre to finger the ball over the bar.
And Watson showed a creative move when he crossed to sub Donal Acton who was running in but failed to make the connection.
Then Desmond McCartan hit a shot wide of the Dunmurry net. They were pushing towards the end of the game for that elusive goal that COULD maybe save them from relegation. But it never happened despite the generous spell of extra time allowed.
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Dunmurry still have three tough games in front of them, while Newcastle has two to play against Sir Oliver Plunkett FC and ist Bangor Old Boys, both teams placed around the middle of the table.
But the writing on the wall is getting larger for Newcastle as the season hurtles to its conclusion.
The best case scenario is a count down but Newcastle will likely lose out on goal difference in that case if they even tied with Dunmurry Rec.
Newcastle: FC: 1 Jack McLaughlin (GK) 2 Conor Hayes 3 Declan Alister 4 Sean Paul Holland 5 Reece McAreavey 6 Desmond McCartan (C) 7 Cathal Keaveney 8 Zak Curran 9 Philip Bonny 10 Andrew Watson 11 Leigh Moore. Subs 12 Shea McLaughlin 14 Donal Acton 15 Simon Gribben.
Dunmurry Rec: 1 Russell Eagleson (GK) 2 Josh Harvey 3 Scott Thornton 4 Ryan Wilson 5 Stephen McNeice (C) 6 Jack Davis 8 Karl McCleave 9 Gareth Johnston 10 Andrew Latimer 11 Anthony Burns 17 Colin Arnott. Subs: 12 Aidan Martin 14 Neal Archer 16 Simon Fenton.
