Downpatrick lost their first home game of the season at the hands of newly promoted East Belfast, click on the link to read more….
Saturday 19th August – NAFL Premier Division
Downpatrick FC 1 v East Belfast 2
Downpatrick welcomed newly promoted East Belfast to Rosconnor, despite having an extensive injury list the home-side will be disappointed not to have gained at least a draw from Saturday’s match.
Downpatrick started the game well, putting their visitors under pressure without actually creating any worthy chances. Then on the fifteenth minute mark midfielder Adrian McCoubrey left two defenders for dead with some silky footwork before laying the ball out wide to winger Aaron McGarry, the ball was crossed over to Stephen Douglas and his first tome pass found the feet of Tony McIlhone. Instinctively McIlhone spun his marker and hit a right foot shot giving the East Belfast keeper no chance as the ball found the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later East Belfast got back on level terms, their striker nicking the ball of Niall Walsh before playing it out wide. With the Downpatrick players originally looking to launch a quick attack they were caught out of position and the visitors players passed the ball into the box leaving his striker with a tap in giving Stephen Keenan in the Downpatrick nets no chance.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 1 v East Belfast 1
The second half started much like the first half did with the home-side looking the most likely team to score, indeed striker Conor McCarron should have done better with a header from a Barry Treacy corner. On the hour mark the visitors got their noses in front, a quick counter attack saw the East Belfast striker left one on one with defender Neil Taggart and he was able to turn the Downpatrick defender before slamming the ball past the helpless Keenan.
Downpatrick tried in the last half hour to get the all important equaliser and had several chances to score but couldn’t get the vital touch as the East Belfast defence stood firm. Tony McIlhone couldn’t believe his luck when he saw his spectacular overhead kick bounce of the under side of the cross bar. The Downpatrick midfielder also got on the end of a cross but nobody was able to get on the end of his knock down and the visitors were able to see out the remainder of the game.
Downpatrick: 1) S Keenan 2) S Douglas 3) C Holland 4) N Walsh 5) N Taggart 6) Adrian McCoubrey 7) B Treacy 8) T McIlhone 9) C McCarron 10) J McLaughlin 11) A McGarry 12) B Fitzsimons 14) Andrew McCoubrey 15) P Traynor.