Newry City U13s 5

DROMORE’S U13s played host for the second game in a row against a Newry side, this time Newry City.

The game kicked off on a damp leisure centre pitch ensuring a fast paced game from the start. Both teams pressed for control, captain Ben Martin in central midfield giving his much bigger opponents the run-around at times.

With Aaron McConville demonstrating his impressive range of passing Daniel Abraham and Nathan Thompson on the wings were seeing plenty of action.

With 10 minutes gone centre-forward Callum Barnes was pushed to the ground in the box and stepped up to smash home the resulting penalty.

End to end play continued until with ten minutes of the half remaining a mistake at the back saw Newry bundle the ball into the net for the equaliser. Worse was to come as another error minutes later saw Newry going into the break with a 2-1 lead which didn't reflect the balance of play.

The second half saw both teams make a number of changes and the balance of play shifted toward the visitors as the match-rusty local boys tired.

Newry extended their lead twice more, yet another error for one and the other a penalty after their attacker was brought down in the box.

Into the closing stages and Dromore hadn't given up, which was demonstrated by Jamie Hawthorne hitting a superb strike through a crowded penalty area and into the corner of the net.

Dromore were still hopeful of getting another back, but the game was effectively ended when another Newry attack saw them getting the final goal of the game with an excellent finish.

The KS Home & Garden Services man-of-the-match for Dromore was winger Nathan Thompson who was involved in nearly everything for the locals going forward.

Team: Herron, Shakesby, Hawthorne, Wilson, Russell, McConville, Martin (c), Abraham (Hamill), Thompson (Gibson), Cunningham (Shannon), Barnes.