Fifths hit for six!

It is very rare that you can take positives from a 6-0 defeat however last Saturday North Down’s fifth string probably won over the neutrals and certainly earned the respect of their opponents Lisnagarvey fifths who rolled into town with a 100% record having scored 45 goals with only 2 against in the process.

Knowing that it could be a long afternoon, the North Down set up was a little more compact and defensively minded than usual and they started well, were composed in possession and confident to give the ball to each other in tight situations. This unfortunately was also North’s downfall in the first quarter leaking a poor short corner which was rifled into the top corner.  Garvey forced another mistake at the top of the circle and they were 2-0 in 10 minutes.  The fifths could have crumbled at this stage but they kept their heads high and knuckled down.

Garvey scored a further two goals by the 37th minute, which included a scoreless 2nd quarter but were on the rack for 10 minutes when North threatened to score pass the well schooled Garvey defence but despite a number of short corners North couldn’t beat the Garvey keeper.  Into the final five minutes, after running tirelessly, the fifths were out on their feet and two late goals sprinkled glitter on the scoreline for the visitors to make the final score 6-0.

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Michael McClelland