Myles double and so close for the fourths
South Antrim thirds were the visitors to Nendrum College to take on the North Down fourths in what was likely to be an important match with survival in Junior 3 at stake.
Just before the end of the first quarter South Antrim managed to counter well down the right hand side and took the lead. Some enforced changes due to injuries were made by the home team in the quarter break and the team were sent back out for the second quarter with renewed vigour.
South Antrim who had started to dominate proceedings in the middle with their 4-man midfield broke down the centre to take a deserved 2-0 lead! Chances came and went throughout the second quarter for both teams after that with Ben Bond having the best chance after the Bond brothers combined well.
Into the second half and suddenly the midfield battle was being won with Jack Myles and Harry McKeown particularly impressive in their hunting and quality on the ball. Pyper was starting to dominate up front with his renowned hold up play giving the team a focal point to work from. With willing runners down the flanks in Scott Graham and Ben Bond North Down went about giving South a little bit of their own medicine with a more sustained high press.
With the game approaching the end of the third quarter North Down attacked well down the right side wand a great cross by right back Haire let in Jack Myles to finish really well under pressure. 2-1! Two minutes later a carbon copy move down the right resulted in North Down winning a short corner. Good work from Pyper followed with Myles once again converting to make it 2-2! However, South Antrim went down the other end and crazily scored 30 seconds later to make it 3-2!
In the final quarter North Down attempted to throw everything at South Antrim with a very attacking line-up. This left the defence very exposed at the back and it was to their credit, as well as Peter Gray in nets, that North Down stayed in the contest! Peter Gray made a top class save with a few minutes remaining when the ball looked destined for the bottom corner!
North Down ultimately lost their shape somewhat in desperation as the final minutes approached and it finished 3-2 in what was a great tussle but a great improvement from last week’s debacle at Cookstown!
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Jack Myles.
