Newbuildings prove too strong for young Bannsiders

This tie was effectively over after just 30 minutes as Newbuildings United raced into a deserved 5-0 lead. The Waterside men started the game like a house on fire and in striker Ricky Lee Dougherty and midfielder’s Steven Wallace and Thomas McBride. The midfield pair were dominant throughout, but it was Dougherty who again stole the show by grabbing a hat-trick. Played at a rain soaked Newbuildings, Peter Allen’s side took the lead after just three minutes. John Elliott’s right wing corner into the six yard box found David Scanlon who headed home from close range. They doubled their lead seven minutes later this time from the penalty spot after Dougherty was brought down by McAllister inside the box. Dougherty dusted himself down and coolly slotted home the resulting penalty into McAllister’s bottom left hand corner. Soon after Conor Kelpie had a glorious chance to add a third but his close range shot was turned around for a corner by McAllister. From Elliott’s resulting delivery, midfielder Wallace powerfully headed home. Incredibly United added a fourth on 19 minutes this time McBride nipped in front of McAllister down the right hand side of the box, the midfielder’s cross into the six yard box found Wallace, but his header was blocked on the line, however Dougherty was on hand to turn home the loose ball. On 30 minutes another flowing move by United ended with Wallace’s well hit snap-shot from the edge of the box catching out McAllister and flying into the keeper’s bottom right hand corner. Moments later Coleraine had a good chance to score but Conor Thornton did well to come off his line quickly to deny Brad Surgenor. Early in the second half a defensive mistake by the visitors resulted in Dougherty completing his hat-trick. The Bannsiders did manage to pull a goal back on 56 minutes when substitute Bradley Lyons’ low drive was parried away by Thornton, but Adam Mullan was on hand to turn home the loose ball. Both sides had chances in the second half with Thornton on a few occasions making top saves, while at the other end Dougherty, Wayne Glenn and Wesley Ferguson were all denied by McAllister. Meanwhile, Lyndon Kane and Corey McMullan will put on the green and white shirt of Northern Ireland tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Northern Ireland Under 18 Schoolboys’ Channel Islands tour. This will be the Managers first chance to get away with the 18-man squad in preparation for the Centenary Shield.