I don't like to get too carried away when writing match reports, I always tend to play things down. However on Saturday Newtowne were rampant against a capable Maghera side

For the first 30minutes on Saturday Newtowne completely outclassed Maghera. Newtowne led after 3 mins when Trevor McSparron scored from the spot. The ball was handled on the line prior to this. Ref John Crossan decided not to send the player off, a very good decision and to me it was common sense.

Before I had tie to walk over to the far touchline it was 2-0, a brilliant goal it was. Harkin and Gary Moore freed Gerard Logue and he chipped the keeper from close in. The gap widened in the 16 th minute. Left back Blain Morrison converted calmed from the edge of the box. Morrison had a fine game and really looks at home at left back.

Trevor McSparron looked a threat every time he got the ball with his skill and pace . He hit the crossbar with a fine effort before scoring an opportunist 4th just after 30 minutes. Unfortunately the bad news for Newtowne was that their twin strikers McSparron and Gary Moore both limped off before half time.

Overall it was an excellent first half from Newtowne. The back four were solid as ever, O'Brien and Mullan kept Sargent and Doherty very quiet. Rory O'Reilly and Morrison attacked at every opportunity. The midfield and forwards also played very well. O'Hara did really well deputising for Johnstone.

The second half saw the Newtowne pace slow down for a while. Fergal Coyle moved back for strollers ad he worked tirelessly all game. McGarrity provided good cover too as he and Coyle were often left 2v 4. Gazza Doherty hit the post for Strollers and he saw a fine effort whistle by the post soon after.

Newtowne put the foot on the gas in the last 20 as they threatened to run riot. Harkin made it 5-0 when he was given the ball on a plate by Andy Ferris. Ferris put Harkin through to make it 6-0. Harkin calmly rounded the keeper to score. Ryan Logue had a great shot denied and Ferris was clean through only to be denied by offside. Ferris scored the seventh late on to complete a wonderful performance.

Twenty goals in the last 3 games for Newtowne. All the team played well on Saturday. Ferris came on and ran the game in the last 20m mins. Ryan Logue was impressive and a fully clothed Marty Woods was also impressive. It was one of the best team performances from Newtowne in quite a while.

For me Maghera struggled in the wide expanse that is Scroggy Rd. Their always difficult to beat because their fit because they get their tackles in quick and hassle you all the time. On Saturday they didn't do that and seemed to struggle for fitness. A lot of their bigger players didn't perform. I thought Coyle was their best player by some distance.

A word for ref John Crossan. He could have produced 3 or 4 reds on Saturday but declined, rightly, to do so. Sometimes common sense can make a game go better than religiously following the letter of the law. Both teams praised him after the game.

Newtowne Callaghan, O'Reilly OBrien Mullan Morrison Harkin P Moore O'Hara G. Logue Gary Moore McSparron SUB R Logue , Ferris, Woods