Newington get the better of Mossley

Mossley’s came at the Park back in August and as manager Glen McIntyre said: “I thought we would have had enough to beat them again, even without our goalkeeper Dwayne Jenkins, who was out through suspension. But it was one of those games where whoever scored first was always likely to go on and win it. We had our chances, but they took theirs, though I thought their second goal was offside. The second half was mostly played in their half, but we didn’t create enough.”

Opposite number Davy Rollo conceded: “We were poor in the second half, though maybe the players thought the game was over, and Mossley didn’t really hurt us. But in the first half, we did really well and played all the football, and could have scored more than two.”

It was Mossley who were first out of the blocks and Gary Orr could have scored two inside the opening two minutes but for the agility of keeper Brendan Quinn.

At the other end, Daryl Ingram had a goal disallowed. He then forced a fine save out of Mossley’s stand-in keeper, midfielder Stephen Murray, while Mark Hagans twice missed the target when he might have done better.

Meanwhile, Mossley’s Gareth McKinney, on his less favoured left foot, couldn’t manage to manoeuvre his way round Quinn.

Instead, it was Newington who grabbed that all-important opening goal on 27 minutes, profiting from some indecision in the visitors defence, spinning onto a quick throw from Matt McDonald.

Rangers stretched their lead just before half time, with Ricky Johnston racing through to give Murray no chance; Mossley’s offside appeals failing to impress the referee.

Apart from an Orr header that fizzed just wide of the upright, the second half was otherwise something of a non-event, apart from the dismissal of the manager, and that late injury to keeper Quinn.

On Saturday, Newington entertain league leaders St Patrick’s YM, while Mossley travel to bottom club Kilroot Rec.

Man of the Match; Matty Maguire, Newington Rangers.

The match was kindly sponsored by the Blue Circle Club.

Newington’s Player of the Month for September was shared between Matt McDonald, Daryl Ingram and Adam McGivern.

Newington Rangers: Quinn (Tennant) – Maguire, Henry (Glover), McKee (Grant), Brennan – Johnston, McGivern, McDonald, Crockett – Hagan, Ingram.

Mossley FC: Murray – McCord, O’Connor, Acheson, Ramsey – G McKinney, J McKinney (Quinn), Murphy, Phillips – Orr, Richmond. Subs (unused) Bell, Scott.

Newington Rangers player in: John Grant, D/M, Kilroot Rec.

More Amateur League coverage in this week’s Times