Tight finish in Ballymoney for mens thirds
North Down thirds travelled to the Joey Dunlop Centre in Ballymoney on Saturday to face Portrush seconds in a league encounter. Having previously beaten them 7-1 in the cup earlier in the season surely we would see more goals? A strong 15 man squad welcomed the visitors with the home side taking advantage of their first eleven having played the previous evening.
The game got off to a fast start for the hosts who created much the better chances but it was North Down who took the lead against the run of play. Andy Walls found Sam Pyper outside the area, the striker held the ball up and played a neat one-two with Stephen Magee, gained a yard and smashed home his record breaking 400th goal for the club with a fine finish. Portrush reacted well and their aerial threat was causing issues to the centre back partnership of Colin Mockford and Paul Beany. An attacking play struck the foot of a Portrush player but went unnoticed by both umpires and the subsequent strike was stopped by a trailing North Down foot on the line. Decision, a penalty stroke that was well dispatched to bring the game level.
The visitors reacted well in the second quarter and some neat work down the right from James Shields found Patrick Smith in the area. The youngster held off his defender and struck a reverse that the goal keeper got something on but couldn’t keep it from crossing the line. Smith notching his first goal for the club. Just as North Down thought they had gained back control, a well struck reverse gave Adam Boyd no chance. As always, the thirds rallied and reacted with another goal to take the lead just before the half ended. This time Walls crashed a ball into the area and Greg Bell deflected home to make it 3-2 to North Down at half time.
Into the second half and the visitors pushed to get the game out of sight. Mockford found Pyper on the left hand side of the area and he squared past the last defender for Bell to finish well for his second. At this point North Down had to defend their lead and Beaney was immaculate in getting in front of his man. Either side Robin McMullan and Dan Griffin put in a great shift as the Comber men started to come under more and more Portrush pressure. Walls took a stick to the mouth in a brave last ditch tackle and soon after had to leave the pitch as he was struck on the side of the head from close range. North Down started to retreat and get deeper in their own half. A cross cum shot was deflected by Bell into his own net and it was game on into the last quarter. Portrush pushed for the equaliser and it came with 2 minutes to go with another good finish. In true gritty never give up North Down thirds fashion, the men in white went to the other end and a loose ball found Pyper outside the post and on his not so favourable reverse. The shouts from Magee were deafening and the skipper made the right decision as the keeper was drawn out, to pull the ball back to the veteran to finish past the last defende, with 20 seconds on the clock and take all 3 points.
Burch Autos Man of the Match was Paul Beaney