Newtowne progressed to the semi final of the Matt Morrison Junior Cup final after a cracking cup tie at Brandywell. After dominating for an hour Newtowne were ran ragged by Bohs in the final 30 minutes.

A bright opening saw both teams get quickly out of the box. The best chance fell to Blain Morrison. He hit the bar from 35 yards with one of the sweetest strikes I've seen. Soon after the same player had a shot cleared off the line.

Newtowne dominated the first half but Bohemians created two good openings . Twice Sean Liddy freed Paul Doherty and twice the striker saw his shot go past the post. The fact that stand in keeper Carten didn't have to make a save was a let off for Newtowne.

The lively Bohs forward line were thwarted in the main in the first half as their midfield colleagues were too far away to support them when they won the ball.

Newtowne took the lead in the 33 rd minute. A beautiful Blain Morrison corner had the home defence in disarray and the ball fell to Ryan Magee who volleyed home. Newtowne were in control at this stage and playing the best football they've played this year. Loughery and Burns pulling strings up front and the midfield in control behind them.

The lead was soon doubled when the on fire Morrison was involved in the second goal. His centre found Harkin and he volleyed home superbly. In all sectors of the field Newtowne were on top.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half Newtowne were unlucky not to extend the lead. A penalty denied and a goal disallowed kept Bohs in the game.

The last 30 minutes was one way traffic as a new Bohemians appeared. They tormented Newtowne down the right flank were Ray McGuinness was a threat on his arrival.

The home side thought they scored in the 71 st minute but Nicholl cleared off the line. Minutes later a Bohs player denied a goal when he got in the way. Bohs got the goal their pressure merited in the 78 th minute. An unmarked Paddy Harkin volleyed home from the edge of the 6 yard box.

Squeaky Bum time. Bohs poured forward en masse for an equaliser. Desperate and committed defending stopped the rampant home team. O'Hara and O'Brien made wonderful interceptions at key times. When Aidan Doherty missed at the end the writing was on the wall for Bohs.

This was a marvellous result for under strength Newtowne. Minus keeper Norris, Wilson , Mark Magee and Rory O'Reilly they turned in a huge performance. In the first half it was skilful and inventive and in the second half they dug in to grind out a result when it was backs to the wall.

Ref John Casey did well to keep the game flowing. As for Bohs they left it too late and really the game could have been beyond them at this stage.

Overall a cracker of a match.

 

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