Muirhead’s men net deserved win
United seal second victory of league season
Newmains boss Kevin Muirhead was delighted his new look side finally got the win their play deserved.
Going into injury time it looked like lady luck would once again desert United with St Anthony’s leading through a Keiron Maxwell goal.
However, with more than 10 minutes of added time due to be played following a horror head injury to Newmains defender Richie Lovering, Muirhead’s men grabbed two goals through Kyle Meaney and Mark Cassidy.
Kevin said: “We played very well. Our attitude was first class.
“When we lost the goal we lifted it again and got the result we deserved.
“Richie is fine but he was out cold at the time. When he came round he was raging at me for taking him off.
“In saying that he would be raging if I had taken him off with a broken leg. He just wants to play all the time.
“Concussions are a big thing in football now and we will make a decision on him later this week.”
In a fairly quiet first half, St Anthony’s had the best opportunity on the half-hour mark when a long diagonal ball found Anton Conway.
However, his shot just missed the target with Newmains goalkeeper Paul McKane at full stretch.
In the second half Newmains had to contend with Lovering’s horror injury. The defender was trying to shield the ball back to McKane when a shove on his back concluded in a collision where Lovering was knocked out, resulting in an 11 minute delay.
The injury seemed to rattle United’s players with Ants scoring minutes later.
However, Newmains recovered and pressed for an equaliser.
As the game moved into injury time, United continued to pour men forward and got their rewards when Kyle Meaney the ball home at the back post. There was even more drama minutes later when Mick McDowell’s long throw caused chaos in the Ants box and Mark Cassidy slotted home the winner.
But Newmains had goalkeeper McKane to thank with two fine stops right at the death to make sure of all three points.
Kevin added: “Paul has played European football with Cliftonville and also senior football with Airdrie and Forfar; he has a wealth of experience.
“He is the sixth goalkeeper we’ve had this season and he has been outstanding since he’s came in.
“He instills so much confidence which goes right through the defence.”