Shannon back with a bang!

North Down thirds entertained Mossley thirds at Comber Leisure Centre hoping to get back to winning ways.

Fielding their full squad the hosts set the tempo early and went one up in 35 seconds when a crashed ball was deflected past the keeper by Mark Shannon returning after a six month injury lay off.  North Down capitalised on their lead 90 seconds later when Sam Brown kept his composure in the area turned and although the keeper made the initial save, the ball deflected between his pads and trickled over the line. The thirds created several more first quarter chances but a combination of poor finishing, poor decision making in two on one scenarios, and the visiting keeper making a few fine saves, could not extend their lead.

More quarter two action followed with Pyper and Orr unable to convert and Shannon coming close again at the back post. At the other end, marking got a little loose and McAuley was called upon to make some excellent saves from short corners. By half time the amount of chances that had gone a begging was starting to grate on the so far solid home defence and midfield.

The third quarter continued in the same vein until after 45 minutes McGimpsey picked out Shannon with a long crashed ball, and the returning attacker made his first touch count to get it on his strong side and delicately slot home past the advancing keeper. Shannon soon completed his hat trick with a close range finish to extend the lead to 4-0 going into the final quarter. The last 15 minutes brought more frustration as Mossley tried to get back into the game but finally after several chances missed, skipper Pyper volleyed in from close range after great work down the right by Moore, to make it five and McGimpsey rounded the scoring off with a well placed short corner. A defensively sound home team performance was spoiled however in the last 5 minutes when a misplaced pass let Mossley in to make it 6-1.

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Mark Shannon