Downpatrick advanced to the quarter-finals of this seasons Border Cup after extra time, click on the link below to read more…
Saturday 7th October – NAFL Border Cup 3rd Round
Mossley FC 2 v Downpatrick FC 3 AET
Downpatrick progressed to the quarter-final of this year’s Border Cup after a tense third round match against Division 1B side Mossley. Mossley’s regular goal keeper got injured and they required their substitute defender to go into nets and it turned out to be an inspired change as he kept out nearly everything the visitors could throw at them.
Downpatrick dominated from the start and with Andy Baggley returning from injury the Downpatrick side were causing the home side all sorts of problems. With fifteen minutes gone Downpatrick opened the scoring, great build up play between Barry Treacy and Barry Fitzsimons saw Treacy play in striker Tony McIlhone. The Downpatrick number nine instinctively back heeled the ball into the path of Philip Traynor and he found himself one on one with the goal keeper and he beautifully dinked the ball over the advancing keeper for the opener.
Shortly after the goal the Mossley keeper suffered the injury and was replaced by an outfield substitute. Downpatrick piled on the pressure but Ricky Kerr, Traynor and McIlhone all saw their efforts saved spectacularly by the sub keeper. Mossley somehow held on to the break without conceding another goal.
Half Time: Mossley FC 0 v Downpatrick FC 1
The home side came out in the second half determined not to let Downpatrick double their advantage and within five minutes they were back on level terms. A long searching ball into the box caused a mix up between the defence and the Kieran Gordon in nets, the ball broke at the feet of the Mossley striker and he made no mistake. Ten minutes later the visitors went behind, a Barry Fitzsimons clearance richocted of Aaron McGarry and bounced into the path of the Mossley player who gave Gordon no chance.
With over a half hour remaining Downpatrick started to attack the Mossley goal, Philip Traynor collected the ball just inside the Mossley half and went on a pulsating run beating player after player before entering the penalty box and getting taken down for a penalty. Barry Treacy placed the ball on the spot and dispatched the ball to the back of the net to draw his side level. Traynor had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards but was harshly ruled offside, Aaron McGarry saw his effort saved and striker Tony McIlhone could have had a hat-trick but was denied on each occasion by the goalie. The game finished two all and went to extra time.
Downpatrick had a number of chances in extra time but failed to convert and just as the game looked like it was heading for penalties up stepped Traynor to score the all decisive winner. Downptrick had forced a number of corners, Treacy sent over a laser like cross which Philip Traynor met perfectly with a diving header from ten yards out to give the keeper no chance.
Downpatrick: 1) K Gordon 2) B Fitzsimons 3) B Connolly 4) N Taggart 5) C McKenna 6) A Baggley 7) B Treacy 8) R Kerr 9) T McIlhone 10) P Traynor 11) A McGarry 12) P Telford 14) J McLaughlin 15) A Telford