So close for North Down fourths
North Down fourths welcomed their Cookstown counterparts to Comber last Saturday looking for revenge for a 6-0 away drubbing earlier in the season but hampered by only fielding a squad of 11 players.
They started very well with Stu Nicholson and Rhys Barratt Rhys ably marshalling the back line with full backs Ben Long and Andrew Haire getting forward regularly. North Down deservedly took the lead after Haire crossed from the line on the right hand straight to Johnny Proctor who stayed composed and slotted the ball superbly into the far corner.
Unfortunately in the closing mins of the first quarter Barratt picked up quite a bad looking knee injury which forced the team once more this season to play the majority of a big game with ten men
Into the second quarter and after some confusion at the back North Down got to grips with their 3-3-3 formation missing a few chances to go further ahead. Shea Kelly was playing exceptionally well throughout in centre midfield shifting play to either side and dominating proceedings and he was well supported in there by the live wire Scott Graham.
With fatigue kicking in just before half time Cookstown duly pounced and came back into the game, firstly after a turnover ball in midfield left a 5 v 3 at the back which they converted, and secondly after a fine Cookstown move which seemed to involve every player they had on the pitch to make it 1-2 half time!
North Down seemed to get a second wind in the third quarter as they piled forward. After great work down the right to win a short corner, Shea Kelly waltzed through the Cookstown defence and slotted in to equalise! Two minutes later a carbon copy with good play to win the short corner and again Kelly dribbled through before the ball dropped to Proctor to slot in to make it 3-2 for North Down. The press was working well and much credit must go to the forward three for their continued energy and ability through this quarter to press smartly and hold the ball up!
Heading into the last quarter and the 10 men had to face a barrage of attacks from the visitors who seemed to have three extra men on the pitch every time the ball was turned over. The visitors had a healthy squad of 16 travelling and their 5 rotating subs made it so hard as it came towards the end of the game. Cookstown’s experienced star drag flicker had several great efforts on goal, one of which was cleared off the line at chest height, but he was not to be denied minutes later as he made it 3-3 with 5 minutes to go with a good finish. Cookstown kept coming and after Peter Gray made a fine couple of saves for the home team, Cookstown pounced with two minutes left to make it 3-4. So cruel for the home side as with that 11th man they would undoubtedly have taken all 3 points after dominating three quarters of the match!
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Johnny Proctor.
