Seconds get points on the board in Junior One
North Down seconds faced Mossley seconds at their new home of Regent on the Friday night lights. With a team consisting of a blend of youth, old and some players making the step up from the 3s, it promised to be an entertaining match. The previous encounter in the cup finished 4-2 to North Down with the Comber men having most of the possession and chances and were hoping of more of the same.
The first quarter started at a quick pace resulting in Andy Mckee bombing up from left back who released Scott Graham further up the wing, passing it back to Mckee who won a short corner. Up stepped Stephen Magee who flicked well but was saved off the line. Magee was later substituted and claimed he was feeling ‘spicy’, time will tell.
The first quarter continued in the same fashion with the new centre back pairing of Gareth Bailie and Aaron Saunders controlling the game and keeping possession well. Despite this Mossley were able to slowly work their way up the pitch and Matt Jordan was required to be on his toes to make a close save. The save was deemed to have come off a North Down foot resulting in a short corner which was flicked wide.
Paul Adgey arrived, completed a short warm up and was immediately thrust into action at centre back, allowing Gareth Bailie to return to his normal position of centre forward. Paul Adgey smashed a ball in from the 25, Bailie with a deft touch redirected it to the back post and Scott Moore showing his dedication to scoring was on the nose to finish. 1-0 game on.
Sam Brown who is continuously improving, took down a monster of an aerial and started a North Down attack from right back which eventually fizzled out. With the first quarter all but done, Paul Adgey found himself on the 25 again repeating the same ball except Gareth Bailie who usually very good at handling aerials failed to control. 1st quarter done.
Quick chat from the injured skipper Stephen Dalzell and the men were good to go again, wanting more goals and to finish the game early. Mark Shannon won and took a free quickly who released the never tiring Rich Willis who burst into the top d but over ran it, Gareth Bailie took the loose ball and hit reverse sweep which was cleared off the line.
Gareth Bailie attacking the circle and dribbling along the side played it smart and won a short corner. Up stepped Stephen Magee who dispatched the flick into the top corner. Who said you can’t play Junior 1 when you’re 51?
With North Down having the majority of the possession they were able to place Paul Adgey and Aaron Saunders on the half way line. Paul Adgey again found himself on the 25 and smashed a ball in winning another short corner. This time Magee flicked the ball to the right with Scott Moore again on the nose to deflect the ball in. 2-0.
Jack Bond was doing good work in the midfield and forward position got the ball in the circle, showing good technique with his back to goal worked a yard of space in front and got a shot away. Matty Bruce who was tirelessly working and finding himself in good positions was unlucky to see his back post shot saved.
Into the second half Stephen Magee grew bored and decided to pop the ball into centre mid to allow both teams to wrestle it out. This eventually led to a Mossley attack which was swiftly cut out by Saunders with a waist height tackle – short corner to Mossley. From the short corner the Mossley striker seemed to pause, pick his spot and sent a loopy flick into the goal. 3-1.
Magee then placed a high aerial ball over the Mossley backline finding Scott Graham who burst away from the Mossley defender but was hacked down in the process. Green to Mossley.
4th Quarter.
There followed a recurring pattern when Magee, dropping deep to pick up the ball, looked up and spotted Shannon high and in space, creamed a ball, flat as you like to his stick in the circle but his first touch let the attacker down and the keeper smothered the ball. North Down started to gain control of the game with Gareth Bailie dropping into midfield.
North Down controlled the game and possession. Another short corner won and it was a complete repeat of the second. Magee flick, Sco Mo on the nose, 4-1.
Mark Shannon, looking frustrated, found himself with the ball around the top of the circle, unleashed 60 minutes of pure unadulterated frustration and smashed the ball top right. The keeper got a hand to it but with too much power in the shot, it trickled in. 5-1.
Mossley had a rare attack in the closing seconds of the game that was cut out by Andy Mckee who was having a great game at left back and the game finished at 5-1.
A fantastic game of hockey played by everyone involved. A game where the experience displayed by the elders mixed with the upcoming youth showed that with a full selection the seconds can be competitive in junior 1.
Particular shout outs to Matty Bruce, Sam Brown, Scott Graham, Andy Mckee and Jack Bond who ran the entire match and cut out plenty of counter attacking chances from Mossley.
Burch Autos joint Man of the Match awards went to Scotty Moore and Andy McKee.
The next chapter of War and Peace will be next week!