North Down Ladies 1st XI welcomed Mossley to Comber Leisure Centre on Saturday for the semi-final of the Senior Cup. Despite North Down’s focus this season being on the league, the girls were keen to secure a win and get to the final.
North Down had an excellent start to the game, playing some of their best hockey this season. Players were stringing together passes and there was particularly some excellent play down the left-hand side through Heather Brittain, Bethany Burrows and Rachel Murphy.
Into the second quarter, North Down continued to settle into the match, playing most of the game inside Mossley’s half of the pitch. Despite this, the girls were unable to capitalise.
Mossley slowly started working their way into the game in the third quarter and despite some wonderful defence efforts from Bethan Crawford, Alex Boyd and Rachel Mornin the Mossley striker Lucy Campbell managed to evade them all to push in what became the decisive goal.
During the final quarter North Down changed their tactics to push more players forward but Mossley had well and truly parked the bus, putting everything on the line to hold onto their 1-0 lead.
The game finished 1-0 to Mossley and North Down wish them all the best as they take on Priorians in the final. Meanwhile North Down look forward to securing the other half of the double when they play their final match of the season against Bangor on Friday 25 March.
The mens third eleven, weakened by a number of withdrawals, went down unexpectedly by 6-1 to Bangor thirds last Saturday at the Aurora Centre. Their only goal, in reportedly dubious circumstances, was scored by John Clarke. In the other two junior games the fourths continued on their seemingly unstoppable progress with their second successive 9-1…
On Saturday North Down ladies seconds travelled to Havelock Park for their Junior League Two match against Banbridge seconds. Bann had first pass back but within the first minute North Down won their first short corner which was converted by Ali Millar to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead. North Down continued to dominate…
North Down thirds faced off against a youthful and 16 strong Queens second XI squad last Saturday at the Dub, House of Sport. The hosts looked very professional having arrived very early for warmup, shuttles and extensive drills prior to pass back, something that was quite the opposite of the Comber side who looked disorganised…
Fresh from last week’s success against Civil Service, and having beaten Queens earlier in the season in the Kirk Cup, North Down travelled to Upper Malone on Saturday in buoyant mood and confident of securing maximum points from the students but a lack lustre display left them returning home deflated and pointless. The students took…
North Down 4ths played Ards 3rds in their penultimate league match of the season at Nendrum School on 1 March. With the two teams sitting in first and second position of the league respectfully, the scene was set for a tight and challenging match for both teams and an enjoyable one for spectators. The game…
North Down travelled to Portadown on Saturday for a Premier League game. Their plans were slightly hampered by the late withdrawal of Andy McGimpsey leaving coach Rodgers with only 13 players at his disposal. The situation worsened when Jonny Linter received a nasty mouth injury after 10 minutes and was unable to take any further…
