Thirds salvage a point in Donegal
North Down thirds made the long trip to play Raphoe seconds in Donegal on Saturday morning for a 12.45pm start. A new look team with a number of regulars missing saw the comeback of veteran Martin Moreland who didn’t hesitate committing to the long away trip, even when the Comber men had only 11 players and no umpire. Winning personal battles and discipline was the message before pushback but skipper Sam Pyper fully expected to return to Comber with a result against the bottom of the league side.
The first quarter started at a good pace and chances were created at both ends with Peter Gray making a good double save to keep the tie level. At the other end, aerial balls from Colin Mockford created all kinds of space down the right hand side for the forwards to hold up and bring the midfield into play. An attacking North Down play broke down and a fast counter attack left a lack of numbers at the back. Raphoe took their opportunity with the overload and a well placed finish from the top of the area put them 1-0 ahead. Minutes later on attack, a free outside the area was played wide to Stuart Nicholson who crashed the ball into the circle. Advantage was played when it came off a Raphoe stick and came into the area at height where Pyper welcomingly deflected home at the back post to equalise.
Into the second quarter and it continued end to end stuff. Bryn Walker was solid at right back, coming out with ball and drawing foul after foul high up the pitch. A number of Raphoe short corners were dealt with well, with Moreland clearing off the post and Nicholson charging out to close the initial strikes. In midfield, the trio of Jonny Green, Jack Bond and Jonny Proctor worked tirelessly up and down the pitch and it was all square at half time.
The second half continued in the same vein and Raphoe went ahead from a quick free and a strike that took a wicked deflection off Walker giving Gray no chance. The visitors were determined to back into the game and, following a few unsuccessful variation short corners, Pyper went route one with a straight strike that give the Raphoe defender on the post no chance to make it 2-2.
Into the last quarter and North Down searched for a winner and some great link up play with Jack Bond and Pyper fed young Patrick Campbell with an opportunity on his reverse, but he shot high over the bar. With 5 minutes to go, Raphoe started to dominate the play and Nicholson was involved in an altercation in front of the umpire that should have been dealt with but no free was given. A minute later Green kept ball in the corner in an attempt to see out the clock. A strong Raphoe tackle and follow through went unpunished and, with tempers flaring, the resulting tackle and similar follow through from Mockford led to a melee of players getting involved and cards were dealt out. Luckily for North Down there were only 2 minutes left on the clock and they were able to see the match out with 9 men and left content with a point.
Burch Autos Man of the Match: Sam Pyper.
