Match Report

Match : 2nd XI v Newry 4ths
Date : 2003-11-01
Venue : H
Score : 5-1
Scorers : Baird(2), Swann(2), Murphy

By Stephen Swann

A big 2nd XI squad took on Newry's 4th best team and came away with their first victory of the season.

Team captain, Stephen Swann, was making his 250th league appearance for East Antrim (and had never tasted victory against Newry before)! Eddie Baird saw to it that the history books were put right when he pounced after 12 minutes to score.

An excellent lofted ball was controlled by Eddie inside the circle before dispatching the ball into the net to give him his brace.

The 2-0 scoreline at half-time, however, wasn't enough for the skipper. Irwin and Blair were dominating midfield and it was the former that released his captain down the right with a clear run on goal. A goal resulted and was followed by the captain's second shortly after when everyone in the Newry circle stood motionless after a Murphy shot was blocked by the keeper. Swann was quickest to react and was rewarded with his 3rd goal of the season.

The day was marred, however, by Newry getting a consolation goal from a penalty corner. However, the 4 goal gap was restored with the last strike of the ball when Murphy hammered home from a penalty corner first strike.

An excellent all-round performance was the launch-pad for the team's first win of the season, but yet again George Tumilson and Andrew Blair excelled - Andrew getting the nod for the man-of-the-match award!

D Hutton
P Leitch
A Bell
A Murphy
G Tumilson
P Irwin
S Swann (capt)
A Blair
N Johnston
M McKenna
T Russell
T Watson
E Baird

A Blair