Another 3 points for the Town in their quest for honours this season but it took them a long time to get on top of their Belfast opponents.
Clearly 4th Newtownabbey were determined to tighten up after a 9-1 mauling in Castlewellan just prior to christmas and set up with 4 at the back and 5 in the middle.
For all that, it was mostly Castlewellan dominance in the first half where the home team had about 80% of the possession but just couldn’t quite turn it into goals, 4th defended stoutly and frustrated the town attack. The closest they came to scoring was in the air and the 4th keeper tipped over from Flanagan and Trainor in quick succession midway through the half while Moag headed narrowly wide from a corner. The visitors were rarely seen as an attacking force in the first period and everyone thought it was only a matter of time before the town edged ahead.
The second period started with Castlewellan clearly intent on imposing themselves but two minutes in they found themselves 1 down when Moag was penalised for a tackle in the area which seemed perfectly legitimate to everyone but the referee. Now in arrears the home side showed a lot more urgency and sent Stevie Trainor up front from an unusual midfield role and the move paid immediate dividends. 4 minutes after going down Trainor headed home a left wing cross and 5 minutes after that he finished off a fine move set up beautifully by Jarosinski. Travers and Flanagan were having a field day down the right wing and eventually the latter finished from close range after Croskery had flicked on a long throw in. Some poor finishing ensued and eventually it was left to Davy Gilmore to consolidate the victory when he blasted home a fine goal following a solo effort from midfield. Best for the town were, Moag, Russell and man of the match Trainor.
Castlewellan will be relieved to have the three points but certainly their finishing has to improve in the weeks ahead. No doubt they won’t get as many chances to score in their big Cochrane and Corry cup quarter final against Ballysillan Swifts next Saturday, they would be more worried if they weren’t creating the chances though. It promises to be a cracking cup tie.
