Monday 21 Mar 2022

NI Player Watch | Josh Magennis makes it two goals in two games

Striker Josh Magennis made it two goals in as many games as Wigan Athletic moved to within a point of leaders Rotherham United following a 4-1 home victory over Morecambe in League One on Saturday.

After scoring his first goal for the club in midweek, the 31-year-old, who joined the club from Hull City in January, took just 19 minutes to chalk up his second for the Latics when he headed home a teasing cross from Tendayi Darikwa.

Also on target over the weekend was Conor Washington who chalked up his tenth goal of the season as Charlton Athletic made it back-to-back wins following a 2-0 success over Burton Albion at the Valley.

Commenting on Washington’s clinical finish, Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson said: “Conor likes playing on the shoulder and has got great movement – he wants it in behind for him to run onto. That can be from outfield players or the goalkeeper.

“Then it’s the execution of the kick and we saw it before at Morecambe. You need to get the timing of the run right, they left it one-v-one and you’ve got to add the finish. It all came together nicely.”

Elsewhere, former Linfield forward Paul Smyth thundered home only his second goal of an injury-ravaged campaign to help League Two Leyton Orient to a 3-1 home win over Rochdale.

It was only the 24-year-old’s ninth start of the season and he admitted he needs more game time to get fully back to match fitness.

“It was the first time I’ve played 75 minutes in a long time,” said Smyth, “I’m just glad I'm able to get minutes and building a platform for myself as well, setting little goals here and there to play more minutes and keep fit and get myself up to scratch.”

Other players to get themselves on the scoresheet were Queen of the South striker Ally Roy who hit a consolation in the 2-1 reverse to top of the table Kilmarnock and former under-21 international Lewis McCann who fired home a late equaliser to earn Dunfermline Athletic a point at home to Morton.

Meanwhile, two players named in John Schofield’s current Northern Ireland under-21 panel for the upcoming games against Slovakia and France were also amongst the goals.

Twenty-year-old Chris McKee made it four goals in five outings for Linfield who defeated Dungannon Swifts 5-0 in the Danske Bank Premiership while teenager Ross McCausland scored after just 15 seconds of Rangers ‘B’ 3-0 Lowland League success against Old Firm rivals Celtic.

In the last eight of the FA Cup, 18-year-old Isaac Price was an unused substitute as Everton went out following a 4-0 reverse at Crystal Palace and there was disappointment too for Paddy McNair and Caolan-Boyd Munce whose interest in this season’s competition also ended following a 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea.  In fact McNair was substituted just eight minutes into the second-half of  the quarter-final tie at the Riverside after suffering a foot injury.

In the Premier League, Stuart Dallas played the full match in Leeds United’s dramatic 3-2 victory against Wolves on Friday night while George Saville had the misfortune to put through his own net as Millwall went down 2-0 to Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City in the Championship.

In the SWPL Demi Vance (centre) assisted Rangers first goal in the hard-fought 2-1 win over Spartans, though Glasgow City, who had Kerry Beattie starting, remain in pole position a point ahead of Rangers at the top of the table.

Finally, winger Conor Falls made his debut as a substitute for Stalybridge Celtic following his loan move from Huddersfield Town, with goalkeeper Dermot Mee also being given a first start by Witton Albion after moving on loan from Manchester United.