Men’s first eleven secure a point a Queens

North Down faced last season’s Premier League champions Queens at The Dub last Saturday hoping to move away from the bottom end of the table.

The first quarter saw few opportunities from open play.  Queens played along the byline and won a corner which was expertly turned round the post by Jordan Linter before, at the other end, Gareth McKeown and Ross Blair combined to win a free in a dangerous position which was easily cleared.  A North Down defender slipped and Queens won another corner which went wide and right on the blow Queens won another corner but again the effort went wide.

At the start of the second quarter after Darren Rodgers had been called on to make a fine save Jonny Linter and Scott Moore combined to put pressure on the Queens defence but their combined effort was cleared.  Linter found a foot in the circle winning a corner but McKeown’s effort was saved and then Queens found some space in the circle and a reverse shot again went wide.  Andy Boyd who was having a fine game made space but his cross hit a North Down foot and the danger was cleared.

North Down grew in confidence as the second half started and put Queens under pressure.  However it was the students who created the first chance winning a corner which was easily cleared.  Josh Gilmore had a great chance to put the visitors ahead but failed to make contact and the ball was cleared.  McKeown then had a reverse shot saved.  Scott Irwin who has settled in well in only his second senior game won the ball in midfield and played the ball forward winning a free which was again cleared.  At the other end Queens had a reverse well cleared and they then won a corner but were unlucky to see their shot rebound off the post to safety.   Just on the third quarter whistle, North Down took the lead when, as the ball bobbled about in the circle, Gareth Bailie unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

The final quarter was full of action as the students pushed hard for the equaliser but the visitors’ defence held firm.  They won a series of corners which were well defended but Jordan Linter was unlucky when his attempted clearance came off his leg and the umpire awarded a penalty which was expertly flicked into the roof of the net to put the sides equal. North Down went on the attack and Boyd provided a chance for McKeown but his effort was saved.  Irwin then won a corner but McKeown’s effort went again wide.  A poor clearance from the otherwise sound Rodgers went straight to a Queens player in mid circle and he flicked strongly into the net to put them into the lead for the first time.  North Down pushed for the equaliser and the hard working Connor Tweedie won a corner and this time McKeown beat the runner and then flicked hard into the net for the equaliser at 2-2.  There was one final opportunity for the visitors when Blair showed all his silky skills to weave his way into the circle but was unable to get in a strong shot and the keeper made a clearance before the whistle went with both sides locked at 2-2.

Burch Autos Man of the Match was Jonny Linter.