Newington took on Linfield Swifts in the traditional Christmas morning Steel and Sons Cup final for the third time in five years today as a second half goal from Aodhan Gillen won the north Belfast side their second ever Steel and Sons Cup.
It was a game of many chances but just one goal as Newington scored early in the second half to clinch the win. Right winger Aodhan Gillen finished well from close range from a neat threaded pass from the outstanding Robert McVarnock - the marauding right back who never lost the ball all day and deservedly picked up the Man of the Match award.
The 'Ton deserved their win as they were the better team on the day but there were good performers in blue shirts including goalkeeper David Walsh who made a number of great saves. The Portadown native denied Newington what looked like a certain goal when a Gary Warwick close range diving header early on, forced Walsh to dive to push it away.
Newington's star man, the aforementioned McVarnock went close when he set off on an adventurous run from deep before his shot was well saved around the post by Walsh. He went on a near identical run again a short time later and this time was denied by a great block by Kielan Reid.
The Blues had two great chances at 0-0 midway through the first half. The first came when Callum Marshall intelligently flicked the ball out the right to Adam Carroll and he found Andrew Clarke at the back post area with a good cross but the attacker volleyed just over from 15 yards.
Marshall played another delightful pass to engineer another Linfield chance as he found Jack Montgomery running in behind, but his shot from inside the box was well saved by the legs of the goalkeeper.
Newington had two further good chances towards the end of the half. Firstly, another smart save from Walsh to tip over from Patrick Downey's shot as he met a cutback.
Then, somehow, Linfield escaped a goalmouth scramble. David Walsh firstly blocked a low driven effort with his feet. The ball was flying around the penalty area before it was blocked and then Burns fired into the side netting from close range.
Winger Aodhan Gillen had threatened three minutes before the opener as he cut in from the right and saw a curling shot well saved by Walsh down to his right.
Once the goal went in Newington went into game management mode and were really solid at the back. Linfield were not as fluid in attack as they had been and perhaps lost their way a little.
It was a disappointing end to the successful reign of Swifts coach David Dorrian who wasn't able to go out on a high as he stepped down after the game but he won't fault the application of his players. This was another great learning experience for the young Swifts against a physical and experienced team.
