Bond earns PMB Award

The men’s fifths travelled to Lisburn on Saturday to take on a well balanced South Antrim fourth eleven at Friends School.

Before the game started it was quite apparent there was a touch of first game syndrome in the side with complaints of fitness and some latecomers, however the game started well as North Down took an early lead with Peter Bond escaping his marker in the circle to latch onto a Ben Long cross deflected into his path by a touch from Ryan Millar and from there he finished nicely into the bottom left. Within minutes it was 2-0 when Millar picked the ball up at the top of the circle turning to play in Peter Bond again and with cool finishing dispatched the ball into the goal. A lapse in defence allowed South Antrim in to score and bring it back to 2-1, a few more chances came and went but at half time the score was 2-1.

Some encouraging words and plenty of fluids on board meant the lads were ready to come back out for the second half.  North Down went 3-1 up when Peter Shields fired a ball across the circle causing panic and confusion in the home defence and eventually causing the keeper to flap at the ball lifting it up into the path of Simon Wilcock who slammed home a volley into the roof of the net. Tired legs allowed South Antrim in again to make it 3-2 but a mazy run from Andrew Linter opened up space where he was able to pick out the ever present Peter Shields who slapped in his 349th goal for the club to make it 4-2 for North Down. South Antrim grabbed one back but it was too late and the final whistle blew to ease the fifths into their first win of the season.

PMB Man of the Match: Peter Bond
Match report: Ryan Millar