Irish Trophy win for North Down in Greystones
North Down progress to round 2 of the Irish Hockey Trophy after a hard earned 3-2 victory against Bray in Greystones and now meet Belfast Harlequins in the next round.
North Down played some of their best hockey of the season in the first half of their cup tie. They passed the ball around with pace and precision and Bray had no answer struggling to keep the eager North Down forwards out.
North Down got the perfect start. After 3 minutes Toby Fynn took a quick free and found Gareth McKeown who squared for Josh Gilmore to score although some felt it had come off Gilmore’s foot. Ross Linter was next in action and his shot went wide. Andy Boyd who was having a solid game played the ball to Gilmore but the big striker failed to make contact. McKeown then found space and his reverse went wide before he then intercepted a clearance, rounded the keeper but shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Just before the end of the quarter North Down won a corner and Fynn dispatched into the corner of the net to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
The second quarter continued in similar vein with North Down totally dominant.
Boyd played the ball in which the keeper missed but no one was on hand to score. Gareth Bailie crossed for Mc Keown who took on the last defender, beat his man and put the visitors 3-0 up. On a rare attack Bray won a corner but Jordan Linter cleared the danger and just before half time North Down won a series of corners but their efforts went high and wide.
The second half was a different game as the weather conditions worsened and Bray proved a greater threat winning more midfield battles but they still lacked striking power. Early in the third quarter they scored from a short corner to make the score 3-1 and North Down lost their composure at this stage struggling to get their passing game going again. Gilmore had a reverse shot go wide. Bray won another corner but this was deflected wide. At the other end following a goalmouth scramble North Down won a corner and the keeper made a great save from Fynn.
In the final quarter a poor clearance from Jonny Linter was cut out and Bray took advantage to score, they then had a great chance to equalise when a forward found himself with just Rodgers to beat but the keeper forced a mistake and the danger was cleared. North Down were happy to play the clock down and the final whistle went to everyone’s relief. All the players must be congratulated for keeping their composure during the horrendous weather conditions.
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Andy Boyd.
