Newtowne 2 - 1 Drummond

A large crowd attended this local derby at Roemill. The playing surface was excellent, let's hope it stays like that all season. Newtowne broke their Drummond hoo doo in a generally drab game.

Both times started brightly in a frenzied first fifteen. Newtowne played good football on the deck while Drummond looked powerful going forward. Challenges were flying in and ref Keenan stayed calm as the game settled. Unfortunately Drummond lost Barney Butcher to an injury early on. In fairness to Butcher and Drummond there were no complaints about the challenge which had no malice in it.

Newtowne took the lead in the 22nd minute. It started down the right with Newtowne's two most influential players early on. Magee won a tackle and free Martin Harkin. Harkin sent in a lovely centre which Walsh headed home. Newtowne had a chance to make it two soon after but Loughery was denied by Crown.

Drummond caught Newtowne cold in the 24th minute. Love saw the back four admiring the scenery and freed Scott. Sam Norris did really well. at the point I had to go and leave the car up and missed 30 mins or so.

The game did not halt in my absence. Drummond were reduced to ten men when Bob Crown was sent off after a melee in the box. Brady dived/fainted/fell asleep in the box and was booked for diving. When the mess died down Crown was red carded

Drummond's agony was compounded in the 42nd minute when another new signing , Rory O'Reilly , put pressure on Heaney and he headed into his own net.

With minutes gone in the second half the ten men reduced arrears. Collie Butcher was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Love calmly stroked the ball home.

I returned to the action soon after this point . The game followed a distinct pattern in the second half. drummond looked threatening from set pieces while Newtowne looked good on the break.

Drummond came into the game more and looked like scoring from a string of corners. Often Wilson's substantial mug got in the way . The best of the Drummond chances fell to Butcher and he nodded his header narrowly wide.

Newtowne had clear cut chances. Kennedy saved from Nicholl and Harkin. Nicholl was put clean through by Walsh, a lovely pass, but he was superbly tackled by Roger Crown, captain loughery saw a header just elude the post.

Newtowne's failure to finish the game gave the 10 men hope. Moore loked like scoring but was fouled by Ryan Moore just outside the box. Love's free kick missed the wall but Norris saved.

This was an important win for Newtowne and will give great confidence for the year ahead. I saw about 55 mins of the game and was very impressed by Magee Jnr, Harkin and the iindustrious Walsh . Sources tell me Ryan Magee and Rory O'Reilly also had fine games. In the first half the home side played good football on the deck.

Drummond may benefit from this. A defeat against their local rivals will give them a boot up the backside before the start of the season , As champions everyone will be out to beat them this year amd all teams will perform at a higher gear. With 10 men Drummond kept plugging away and looked dangerous from dead balls.

Home Reports