Comfortable win for Firsts against Cliftonville

In a rearranged league fixture North Down entertained Cliftonville on Saturday at the Leisure Centre. Cliftonville turned up with a weakened side and provided little opposition for a North Down side growing in confidence as players come back from injury. However they were still without Michael Black and Chris Speers.

Cliftonville could not match the pace of North Down and were on the defensive from the word go. Gareth Bailie had a goal disallowed in the first minute for dangerous play but it did not take long for the goal rush to begin. Andy Forrest started the rout with a reverse shot. Then Simon Watt scored from close in.Forrest got his second to make it 3 nil after 15 minutes. North Down squandered a number of corners before Bailie got in on the act getting number 4. Three further goals before halftime from Forrest ,Bailie and Wilson saw the halftime score 7-0

The second half continued in the same vein with Cliftonville pinned back in their own half. McBride in the home goal was a spectator for most of the game and was only called into action in the latter part of the game to clear his lines

Further goals came at regular intervals from Forrest,B ailie, Wilson 2 , Watt 2 and Dalzell to make the final score 14 nil

North Down will have a much more difficult task next week when they travel  to play a well organised Bangor side.