On this day back in 2007 Bryan Robson took his Championship side Sheffield United to Newry for the first of a 3-day tour of Ireland which also included games against Longford Town and our Mid-Ulster rivals Portadown.
In what was always going to be a difficult game, we made a bright start as we tried out a new 3-5-2 formation. Lee Feeney came in for his first start of the summer to partner James Willis up front, while Niall Hudson also returned from work commitments to take his place on the right of a five-man midfield.
Feeney was unlucky not to get on the end of Clarke's sixth minute cross while James Willis saw his 25-yard free-kick take a vicious deflection out for a corner. However, it didn't take long for Bryan Robson's Sheffield to grab a foothold in the match.
Republic Of Ireland international Alan Quinn should have put the Blades in front just before the quarter hour mark. After combining well with former Manchester United striker Danny Webber, the midfielder somehow contrived to screw the ball wide from right in front of the posts.
Webber then nearly made Cullen Feeney pay for an uncharacteristic loose pass at the back when he raced through on goal but fired a low drive just wide of the left hand post.
However, after Newry had lost Robert Robinson and Lee Feeney to early injuries, the Championship side deservedly went in front five minutes before the break. Good work by Northern Ireland international Gillespie saw him play in Jonathon Stead down the right and the lanky striker centred for Quinn to make up for his earlier miss with a simple sidefoot finish from close range.
Former Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon could have doubled the visitors lead two minutes later but his bullet header from Gillespie's cross flew just over the crossbar.
Halftime: Newry City 0 Sheffield Utd 1
Newry came out for the second period in much brighter fashion and took the game to Robson's side crom the restart.
With just three minutes on the second half clock Richard Clarke drew his side level. Half-time substitute Tony Smith was upended by Chris Morgan on the edge of the area and Clarke stepped up to rifle a low free-kick past Paddy Kenny with the aid of a slight deflection.
Newry made a whole host of substitutions early in the second period which took the sting out of the game somewhat but Gerry Flynn's men were easily holding their own against top class opposition.
Andy Colemar in the Newry goal had a superb game with some fantastic stops to deny United.
The best of those came with just 12 minutes left on the clock when Alan Quinn got on the end of Keith Gillespie's right wing cross, but Coleman was equal to his first time left foot volley,
However, the City stopper was unlucky just two minutes later when Michael Tonge smashed a 20-yard free-kick around the Newry wall and just out of his reach.
Danny Webber then wrapped up the win for the Blades with a strike his play deserved right on the final whistle.
Full Time: Newry City 1 Sheffield Utd 3
NEWRY CITY: Robert Robinson, Niall Hudson, Johnny Ewan, Paddy McLaughlin, Emmet Friars, Richard Clarke, Paddy Quinn, Steven Ferguson, James Willis, Lee Feeney, Cullen Feeney.
Subs Andy Coleman, Ian Curran, John McDonnell, Darren King, Kenny Kearns, Tony Smith, Pat McAllister.
SHEFFIELD UNITED: Paddy Kenny, Gary Naysmith. Derek Geary, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Mikele Leigertwood, Alan Quinn, Michael Tonge, Keith Gillespie, Jonathan Stead, Danny Webber.
Subs: Luton Shelton, James Ashmore, Chris Licketti, Geoff Horsfield
This was ex- Manchester United legend Brian Robson’s second time in the Newry dugouts after previously gracing The Showgrounds ten years earlier when he was player-manager of Middlesbrough.
Overall it was a good performance from Gerry Flynn’s men, especially from Richard Clarke who impressed Robson so much that he offered him a trial in the game against Portadown the following week!
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