U17 Belfast & East Antrim Youth League
Larne Youth 1
Newington FC 10
Newington’s U17s carried on their great start to the season with a comprehensive victory over Larne Youth at the Grove last Saturday.
Newington started brightly and were three goals up within 15 minutes.
Darren Fitzsimons scored his first goal of the season, running onto a Ryan Gibney through ball and calmly placing the ball past the goalkeeper.
Pierce Hughes scored from the penalty spot following a foul on Shane Magee and Patrick Boyd got his Newington debut off to a dream start, heading in from a corner.
Chances were coming thick and fast for the away side. Hughes, Gibney and Paul Campbell all came close to adding to Newington’s lead before Magee finally added a fourth on 25 minutes.
Centre half Stephen Fitzsimons was a rock at the back for the ’Ton while full backs Stephen McVeigh and Daniel Kelly were constant attacking threats.
Mark Kelly in the middle of the park was at the heart of the action throughout.
Ryan Gibney scored his first goal in the black and white stripes of Newington with five minutes of the half remaining. Gibney flung a foot at a cross as it zipped across the box, poking the ball into the net from six yards.
Campbell added his name to the scoresheet when he planted Newington’s second penalty of the tie firmly into the top right corner just before the interval. Half-time: 0–6.
With the game all but won, Newington’s management made changes, introducing Declan Fitzsimons and Dylan Gaston. Emmet-Kevin McCloskey, Richard McTasney and Cory Gilmore followed the duo onto the pitch soon after.
’Ton captain Paul Campbell picked up in the second half where he left off in the first, completing his hat-trick with two goals from inside the area in the opening minutes of the half. It was the Newington striker’s second treble in as many games.
Gibney scored his second and Newington’s ninth of the game on the hour, his drive from the outskirts of the area nestled low to the goalkeeper’s left.
Chances fell to Gaston and McCloskey to add to the ’Ton’s lead, but the keeper and his upright kept the North Belfast side out.
With five minutes to play the Swans completed their rout on Larne’s goal when McCloskey squared to McTasney inside the area.
The young Newington man converted with ease.
Larne pressed in the final stages of the game and were rewarded for their efforts, heading past keeper Steven McElevey from a corner.
Newington face a sterner test this Saturday when Sport & Leisure visit the Grove. Kick-off: 10.30am.
NEWINGTON: Steven McElevey, Daniel Kelly, Patrick Boyd, Stephen Fitzsimons, Stephen McVeigh, Shane Magee, Pierce Hughes, Mark Kelly, Darren Fitzsimons, Paul Campbell (C), Ryan Gibney. Subs: Declan Fitzsimons, Cory Gilmore, Emmet-Kevin McCloskey, Richard McTasney, Dylan Gaston. MOTM: Ryan Gibney.
