Much needed win for mens first eleven

North Down travelled to Deramore on Saturday keen to get back to winning ways before the league splits.  Harlequins had everything to play for as they needed a point to secure a top six place.

The game opened at a frantic pace with both sides probing for opportunities.  North Down were first to threaten when after 7 minutes Gareth Bailie found himself 3 yards out with only the keeper to beat but the ball got tangled up in his feet and the chance was cleared. With 5 minutes remaining in the quarter Andy McGimpsey played a superb ball to Gareth McKeown who weaved his way along the byline and scored from a narrow angle.

In the second period North Down won three corners which were well dealt with by the home keeper but the third rebounded to Josh Gilmore who smashed the ball into the net.  Harlequins were playing creative hockey in midfield and Stephen Magrath pulled one back to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

The second half continued in similar vein with both teams playing at 100 miles per hour. Five minutes in Ross Blair restored North Down’s two goal lead when he scored his third goal for the club with a shot from the edge of the circle.  Realising the game was slipping away from them, Harlequins upped the pressure on the North Down circle and scored a second through James Hutchinson from a well executed short corner.

In the final quarter it was Harlequins who enjoyed the majority of the pressure winning a number of corners.  These were well dealt with by the visitors’ defence with Rodgers, Linter and Templeton all making fine clearances.  Harlequins had an appeal for a penalty turned down by the umpire when Linter appeared to stop a goal bound effort with his feet. Then, as often happens, a quick break from defence found Gilmore unmarked in the circle and he confidently beat the keeper to give North Down a comfortable 4-2 victory.

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Darren Rodgers.