Slow start costs seconds points

The Men’s seconds made the trip to Havelock Park on Saturday to take on Banbridge 2nds in this weeks Junior One league game.

North Down started the game slowly and initially struggled to get to grips with the water based pitch with a number of wayward and miscontrolled passes allowing Banbridge to gain control of the match and end the 1st quarter 1-0 up.

The second quarter of the game was following a similar pattern to the first with Banbridge getting themselves another goal and going 2-0 up in the match.

After a fairly heated half time team talk North Down started to gain a foothold in the match playing with more aggression and starting to create some good chances of their own. Unfortunately none of these chances were converted and Banbridge managed to capitalise on a deflection off a North Down stick with the ball falling nicely for a Banbridge player at the back post to slot home from close range making it 3-0 Banbridge at the end of the third quarter.

North Down continued to play at higher tempo in the final period and were eventually rewarded with a goal for their efforts when Gareth McKeown continued his good run of form by volleying in a rebound from a saved Chris Speers dragflick! With plenty of time still left on the clock North Down continued to push for more goals but the Banbridge defence stayed strong and the match ended 3-1.

All in all a slow start to the match proved costly and the seconds will need more of their improved second half showing next week when they welcome Garvey seconds to Comber at 4pm!

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Michael Black