North Down disappoint in Newry
North Down travelled to Newry on Friday evening for their penultimate Premier League game of the season with both sides needing points to survive this crazy five game shoot out.
Played on a very sandy pitch North Down were unable to play their quick passing game. The first chance fell to North Down. Ross Blair made a super interception as Newry tried to clear their lines and with the keeper beaten saw his reverse shot cleared off the line by a defender. Newry then won a corner which was not cleared and a further corner was awarded. The initial shot appeared to be deflected onto Templeton’s body but the umpire said it came off his foot and awarded a penalty which was easily converted to give Newry the lead. North Down pressed for the equaliser and Nic Pio and Connor Tweedie combined to put pressure on the home defence but the ball was cleared. With 2 minutes of the quarter remaining North Down won 2 corners which were cleared.
The second half had little goal mouth action as Newry were happy to sit back and protect their lead. Pio attacked the circle and the ball fell to Josh Gilmore in mid circle but his slap shot was easily cleared. McKeown then played Orr in and he won a corner for a stick tackle and, though the keeper made the initial save, the ball rebounded into mid circle where three North Down players failed to make contact.
Newry were well organised at the back and North Down lacked the ability to break them down and as a result Newry grew in confidence winning corners from the second of which they increased their lead with the ball deflecting into goal off the unlucky Linter. At the other end McKeown found Templeton in the circle but his effort went wide. The Newry defence continued on top but in the final seconds a run from Tweedie saw the ball cross the line but somehow the umpire awarded a corner. Some justice was done when McKeown smashed the rebound into the net to make it 2-1 at the close.
North Down now travel to Raphoe this Saturday knowing that they must win if they are to retain their Premier League status. It really is the sharp end of the season for the North Down club as North Down ladies will be promoted to their Premier League if they beat Bangor at Comber Leisure Centre at 7.30 pm this Friday evening. Two matches which will define North Down’s season!
Burch Autos Man of the match was Ross Linter
