The first team fell to only their second league defeat of the season on Saturday at the hands of St Pats YM, click on the link below to read more…
Saturday 14th March – NAFL Division 1A
St Pats YM 2 v Downpatrick FC 1
Downpatrick suffered only their second league defeat of the season with a poor performance at the hands of St Pats YM. Downpatrick can have no complaints about the result, unfortunately too many players had an off day.
Downpatrick started the game brightly with Mark Holland and Barry Treacy unlucky with two half chances not troubling the St Pats goal keeper. Midway through the half St Pats won a corner, the ball was swung into the middle of the box and their striker found himself unmarked and sent a free header to the back of the net.
St Pats should have doubled their advantage with ten minutes remaining until half time, Downpatrick when they caught Downpatrick on the counter attack. The ball was intercepted just outside the St Pats box and three passes later the St Pats striker was one on one with goal keeper McKenna who made a superb save to keep his side in the match.
Half Time: St Pats YM 1 v Downpatrick FC 0
Ten minutes into the second Downpatrick made a couple of substitutions to try and improve the tempo of the game with Andrew Telford replacing Eoin Boyle and Christian Holland replacing Chris McDowell. Downpatrick had a couple of penalty decisions turned down for handball and a blatant push on midfielder Andy Baggley but each time the referee waved play on.
St Pats doubled their advantage with fifteen minutes remaining, Downpatrick had a corner which was cleared to the edge of the box. The ball was then played up to the half way line to the St Pats striker who side footed the ball round the corner and found the St Pats centre half who had made a lung bursting run up field. The St Pats centre half was now one on one with Downpatrick goal keeper Michael McKenna and he gave the Downpatrick custodian no chance.
With time running out Downpatrick tried to apply some pressure and were eventually awarded a penalty with two minutes until full time. Markie Holland latched on a long ball into the box, he headed the ball forward just before the keeper could gather it and left the keeper with no option but to take him out. Downpatrick’s Michael McKenna came up from the opposite goal and sent the keeper the wrong way with a good penalty to reduce the arrears.
Downpatrick: 1) M McKenna 2) T Bell 3) C McDowell 4) M Carson 5) B Connolly 6) A Baggley 7) B Treacy 8) N Walsh 9) E Boyle 10) M Holland 11) A McGarry 12) A Telford 14) B Curran 15) C Holland
