Fourth sizzled in Cookstown
After selection difficulties with player availability North Down fourths travelled to Cookstown for a Junior Three league game.
On arrival the sight of a high quality Junior One game finishing off sent shudders through the visitors, compounded when 3 or 4 of them were seen “lurking” around after the final whistle!
With Nathan Fletcher delayed in traffic, the fourth started a man short and the first period was scrappy with North Down staying compact in their shape with an effective half court press restricting Cookstown to some crash balls from deep which the defence dealt with effectively.
Just before the end of the first quarter Cookstown went ahead when a cross wasn’t dealt with at the back post and a simple tap in made it 1-0 to the home team.
Simple instructions were made to keep it simple in the second quarter and more of the same from the 10 men. Unfortunately within seconds of the restart the ball was turned over leading to a well worked short corner to make it 2-0.
Fletcher’s arrival shortly before half time boosted the team, with a couple of glorious chances spurned just before the half time whistle. Some great passing alongside a couple of crashed balls had caused havoc amongst the Cookstown defence. This gave the fourths greater confidence and the 15 minute period that followed was positive. Notable mentions go to full backs Guy McGonigle and Ben Long who really showed great composure on the ball and won their battles.
The 4 man midfield was operating well with Scott Graham particularly impressive in his ability to travel with and win back the ball countless times with the evergreen Keith Haslett showing his class in retaining possession to help North Down progress up the pitch.
Cookstown added a third and fourth goal just before the end of the 3rd quarter with tired legs and a couple of injuries starting to really take their toll and in the last quarter they added two more to make it 6-0 with a final goal fit to grace any league let alone Junior Three.
Despite the scoreline, the skipper was very pleased with the performance and to play against a 16 strong Cookstown squad with 10 men for almost half the game took its toll towards the end. Chances were also there in the first half and with a full squad it would have been a very competitive game.
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Keith Haslett.