North Down travelled to Newry on Friday evening for their penultimate Premier League game of the season with both sides needing points to survive this crazy five game shoot out.<\/p>\n
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Played on a very sandy pitch North Down were unable to play their quick passing game.\u00a0 The first chance fell to North Down.\u00a0 Ross Blair made a super interception as Newry tried to clear their lines and with the keeper beaten saw his reverse shot cleared off the line by a defender.\u00a0 Newry then won a corner which was not cleared and a further corner was awarded.\u00a0 The initial shot appeared to be deflected onto Templeton\u2019s body but the umpire said it came off his foot and awarded a penalty which was easily converted to give Newry the lead.\u00a0 North Down pressed for the equaliser and Nic Pio and Connor Tweedie combined to put pressure on the home defence but the ball was cleared.\u00a0 With 2 minutes of the quarter remaining North Down won 2 corners which were cleared.<\/p>\n
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The second half had little goal mouth action as Newry were happy to sit back and protect their lead.\u00a0 Pio attacked the circle and the ball fell to Josh Gilmore in mid circle but his slap shot was easily cleared.\u00a0 McKeown then played Orr in and he won a corner for a stick tackle and, though the keeper made the initial save, the ball rebounded into mid circle where three North Down players failed to make contact.<\/p>\n
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Newry were well organised at the back and North Down lacked the ability to break them down and as a result Newry grew in confidence winning corners from the second of which they increased their lead with the ball deflecting into goal off the unlucky Linter.\u00a0 At the other end McKeown found Templeton in the circle but his effort went wide.\u00a0 The Newry defence continued on top but in the final seconds a run from Tweedie saw the ball cross the line but somehow the umpire awarded a corner.\u00a0 Some justice was done when McKeown smashed the rebound into the net to make it 2-1 at the close.<\/p>\n
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North Down now travel to Raphoe this Saturday knowing that they must win if they are to retain their Premier League status.\u00a0 It really is the sharp end of the season for the North Down club as North Down ladies will be promoted to their Premier League if they beat Bangor at Comber Leisure Centre at 7.30 pm this Friday evening.\u00a0 Two matches which will define North Down\u2019s season!<\/p>\n
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Burch Autos Man of the match was Ross Linter<\/p>\n
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