Thirds fall in vital game to Mossley
North Down thirds hosted fellow relegation battlers Mossley thirds on Friday night at Regent House knowing that this was a must win game. Having pinched all three points only three weeks earlier with a 3-2 win, they knew they would be in for another tight game.
The first quarter got off to a fast paced start with North Down controlling the tempo and recycling the ball from each flank well. A string of early passes after an overturned ball set up a counter attack and Sam Pyper was put through one on one with the goal keeper advancing off his line. A spritely Kyle Frazer left his man and provided the supporting overlap. Pyper duly obliged slotting the pass for him to score into the open goal.
Into the second quarter and the home team continued putting pressure on the Mossley area. A two on one counter attack caught Ben Bond in two minds between either shooting or passing that ended in neither. At the other end Mossley were restricted to a handful of short corners and a variation was successfully executed to make the score 1-1. Just before the end of the half Mossley took the lead following a mistake in possession from Bryn Walker that lead to another short corner being converted.
After the break the thirds pressed higher and after some deliberation between the umpires a penalty stroke was awarded when Pyper’s effort struck a foot in front of goal. The skipper stepped up but struck the post and wide. Soon after, an attempted cross field pass was intercepted and Mossley countered with numbers finishing a well worked move to go 3-1 ahead. As heads dropped, tempers rose and Walker’s direct appeal to the umpire with some choice words got him a 10 minute yellow. Stuart Nicholson then joined him with a deliberate foul and received a green card bringing the Comber men down to nine. Mossley then played the numbers game and had North Down chasing shadows.
Into the last quarter, the thirds bided their time to get back to ten men and pushed an extra man up top. Mark Shannon came close with a deflection from a strong hit into the area but it went wide. With 5 minutes to go, and back to full strength, the home team pushed further and managed to pull one back when Sam Brown was put through, neatly turned his man in front of goal, and finished well. Mossley then saw the game out and claimed a vital 3 points. The thirds survival in Junior 2 is in the hands of others and a tough task awaits away to Garvey thirds in their last game of the season.
Burch Autos man of the Match: Sam Brown