A game of two halves saw Downpatrick suffer another defeat in the league as they look to get some points in the table, click on the link below to read more…
Saturday 28th October – NAFL Premier Division
Immaculata FC 3 v Downpatrick FC 1
With a strong wing behind them Downpatrick started the game on the front foot and should have had a penalty in the first two minutes when Peter Telford was fouled in the box after he had got his shot away. Working on his own up front Conor McCarron was causing the home defence all sorts of problems.
The game took a dramatic turn around the twenty minute mark, Aaron McGarry raced through to score a perfectly good goal only for the referee to award Immaculata a free kick and send midfielder Telford off. Both sides couldn’t believe either decision but credit to Downpatrick they continued to try and play football.
Downparick opened the scoring with thirty minutes gone on the clock, Jack McLaughlin received the ball on the right week, he advanced down the line before cutting inside and sending a low shot into the bottom corner. The remainder of the half saw Immaculata apply some pressure on the Downpatrick defence and they had the deputising goal keeper Gerdie Collins to thank for keeping his team in front, making two superb saves, one of which was point blank and tipping it onto the post.
Half Time: Immaculata FC 0 V Downpatrick FC 1
The opening ten minutes of the second half saw the visitors being put under a lot of pressure with Collins having to make a number of vital saves to keep his side in front. A crazy five minute spell either side of the hour mark saw the hosts seal all three points. A long throw into the box caused confusion in the Downpatrick defence and the ball was allowed to bounce and took the slightest of touches from a Immaculata player and ended up in the back of the net.
Three minutes later Immaculata got their noses in front, they were awarded a free kick just outside the left hand side of the box and the ball was whipped into the top corner giving Collins no chance. Then two minutes later Immaculata scored their third goal of the game, the right winger ran down the wing cut into the box and sent a low shot which evaded Collins and ended up in the back of the net.
With a half hour of the game still remaining both teams created a number of opportunities with Philip Traynor and Barry Treacy leading the Downpatrick charge as they tried to get back into the game. Tony McIlhone was also unlucky to see his effort not find the net while at the other end Gerdie Collins was having the game of his life as he produced a number of spectacular saves.
Downpatrick: 1) G Collins 2) B Fitzsimons 3) C Holland 4) N Taggart 5) R Kerr 6) P Telford 7) B Treacy 8) P Traynor 9) J McLaughlin 10) C McCarron 11) A McGarry 12) T McIlhone 14) C McKenna 15) A McCoubrey
