Men lose local derby

North Down travelled to Bangor on Saturday to play a high flying Bangor side who were undefeated in the league.Both sides played good attacking hockey from the off but it was Bangors ability to convert short corners that was the difference between the teams at the end.Bangor won 3 and converted 2 while North Down won 6 but were unable to convert any.
Bangor got the ideal start scoring after 7 minutes.The visitors defence was slack allowing the right winger to run through unchallenged and score a simple goal and then three minutes later they got their second when Burgess converted their first short corner.
Play swung from end to end but it was North Down who were creating the chances.A long ball from McKibbin found McKeown unmarked in the circle and he deflected the ball past the keeper.North Down had a chance to equalise when a short corner was not properly cleared but somehow the ball was cleared from the keepers pads as the incoming forwards tried in vein to get the ball over the line However Bangor fought back winning their second short corner with 2 minutes remaining in the half and Burgess restored their two goal advantage
The second half saw North Down restrict Bangor to few scoring chances.Their best opportunity came from another corner but Coates made a fine save.At the other end a North Down corner was scrambled away from the keepers pads and then the keeper made a fine save from a switch at a corner.The keeper pushed a fine effort over the bar but eventually the pressure paid when Gilmore found space in the circle and his reverse effort found the net.With 8 minutes remaining North Down piled on the pressure but the Bangor defence held firm allowing them to maintain their 100% record.

PMB man of match  Phil Templeton