Late equaliser earns points for thirds

North Down men’s thirds hosted local rivals Civil Service seconds last Friday night at Regent House. Keen to start bridging a gap from the lower teams in the division, three points felt vital to distance the two sides.

North Down started sluggishly with passes going astray and ball pace lacking. Off the ball, the Civil Service game plan was clear with smashed long ball from the back, bypassing midfield to the front line. The thirds defended this well with Paul Beaney getting in front of his man to intercept time and time again. When Service managed to get the ball into the final third, veteran Aaron Gill showed how to keep close control and his quick hands caused all sorts of problems for the North Down defence. The forward earned a number of short corners, but none were converted. Going forward the Comber boys created some great overlaps down the right side and a driving run from Richard Willis beating two or three in his path deserved more when his pull back could not be converted. North Down continued to press the Service circle and a desperate routine clearance made its way back over the half way line to Colin Mockford, who uncharacteristically mis controlled allowing a pacier Service player to have a one on one with Peter Gray and put the visitors 1-0 up against the run of play just before the half ended.

Into the second half and Service started to control the tempo much more, but with same long ball tactic to their target man who continued to draw fouls and win short corners. North Down upped their game and won several short corners of their own, but failed to convert.  A break down the right and a deflected cross was edged onto the post by Steven Dalzell and Sam Pyper’s rebounded attempt was cleared to safety. They continued to push and create chances with Ben Bond and Stephen Magee coming close. The North Down midfield stepped up a gear creating more attacks and short corner opportunities and finally in the last minute of full time, a slipped ball right found Pyper to crash home the equaliser and take their share of the spoils. A fair result on the day however North Down will feel that all three points were there for the taking.

Burch Autos Player of the Match; Richard Willis