Town’s U9s win a thrilling game

The local lads pushed forward from the first whistle with the midfield trio of Rhys McKee, Thomas Ingram and Ben Johnston dominating a shell shocked Midway and creating chances for the front two of Caolan Teer and Mark Bronte.

With five minutes to go to the break a Johnston cross was handled in the box and penalty was awarded. Mark Bronte stepped up and fired his shot low and hard into the bottom left hand corner.

Rathfriland almost made it two before the break when Ingram rose to head a Bronte corner just over the crossbar.

The Newry lads regrouped after the break applied pressure hitting the post and producing a fine reaction save from Caolan Teer in goal.

Rathfriland always look dangerous on the break with Ben Johnston racing down the left to fire just over, Paul Travers making an amazing run down the right resulting in him hitting the side netting and Alan McKnight blasting a fierce right-footed drive against the crossbar having been set up by Scott Chambers.

Paul Travers and Leon Shimmons held the defensive line magnificently at the end of the game to ensure that Rathfriland picked up all three points that their, confident, attacking and at times dazzling display merited.

Team: Darren Sloan, Alan McKnight, Leon Shimmons, Paul Travers, Mark Bronte, Rhys McKee, Ben Johnston, Scott Chambers, Caolán Teer, Thomas Ingram