Mens Seconds End of Season Resume

By Terry Ritchie

North Down seconds have just completed a very successful season with the Junior 2 league title. With 2 games remaining the seconds required 2 points to ensure winning the league. Before Easter the Seconds traveled to Cookstown and after a very competitive game returned to Comber with the required points and the league title.

Melvyn Nicholls scored mid-way through the first half to put the seconds in pole position. However Cookstown equalized early in the second half and continued to put pressure on the North Down defense Some positional changes were made and gradually the seconds began to dominate the remainder of the game. With 2 minutes remaining captain Stevie Magee scored a quality goal from a well executed penalty corner. He dribbled past the runners, rounded the keeper and flicked into the top corner. A fantastic goal and a great way to win the league. Not
a great performance but the necessary result and demonstrated the excellent team spirit and commitment of the entire squad which has been evident during the whole season.

Last Saturday in their last fixture the seconds produced an excellent performance to win 6-1 against a competitive Lisnagarvey 4ths team. This win completes an 18 game unbeaten league run, with 16 wins, and a fantastic season. 2 early Mark Forrest goals after 10 and 11 minutes emphasized the seconds domination. Quality hockey produced further chances as Melvyn Nicholls recorded an excellent hat-trick and Steve Magee converted a penalty corner. Garvey created virtually no chances until the last minute when a forward scored from a cross from the right wing. A superb way to finish the season with 114 goals in 22 games, the team has played attacking hockey of the highest quality. Each player
deserves great credit for producing excellent winning hockey each week and contributing to a fantastic team spirit.

The players would like to thank Mark Parsons for his excellent umpiring throughout the season.