Eleven goal thriller at Comber

The large crowd that turned up to watch the Premier League fixture between North Down and Kilkeel at Comber last Wednesday were treated to an 11 goal thriller.Unfortunately North Down were on the wrong end of the result losing by 7-4

Kilkeel got the perfect start scoring twice in the first three minutes.On both occasions the speedy Kilkeel attack outpaced the North Down defence and gave McArthur no chance in goal.After 8 minutes North Down reduced the arrears when Templeton hammered home a short corner.Under pressure the North Down defence gave the ball away too easily and Kilkeel again penalised them with a fine finish.North Down were not lying down and McKeown worked his way along the byline and scored from an acute angle.After 20 minutes North Down were again caught out.Morris appeared to be fouled but the umpire waved play on and again Kilkeel’s pace allowed them to get round the back of the home defence and when the ball was crossed the centre forward was first to the ball and increased his sides lead.With ten minutes of the half remaining McKeown got his second when he again flicked high into the net from an acute angle.

With the halftime score at 4-3 everyone knew the next goal would have significant importance.

Unfortunately it went the way of Kilkeel.A defender was harshly penalised for a stick tackle at the top of the circle and from the resultant penalty Kilkeel added their fifth.Soon after Kilkeel appeared to put the result out of North Downs reach. A crash ball into the circle was met by an attacker who beat McArthur.

However North Down had other ideas putting the Kilkeel circle under pressure.A neat passing movement down the right gave McKeown his hat trick when he smartly finished off the move.North Down won a number of corners but the visitors’ keeper made a couple of fine saves to keep his side 2 goals in front

With a few minutes remaining a North Down corner broke down and Kilkeel transferred the ball quickly upfield and an accurate cross was crashed into the net at the back post

PMB Player of the Match: Gareth McKeown