Downpatrick under 14’s still have an opportunity to secure the league title with four games remaining, Saturday’s victory over North End puts them in prime position to do so, click on the link below to find out how they won comfortably on Saturday…
Saturday 18th April – Lisburn Invitational Junior League under 14’s
Downpatrick FC 8 v North End 2
Downpatrick started the half playing into a strong wind, this actually suited their style of play as they had to get the ball down and play. The opening 20 minutes was all Downpatrick as North End couldn’t cope with their neat passing.
Totally against the run of play North End took the lead when a Downpatrick pass hit the referee, this created a rare attack for North End and their striker made Downpatrick pay by slotting the ball past the advancing goal keeper Shane Campbell. This lead only lasted a minute as Downpatrick rallied through Ruairi Quinn, he drove down the right wing and crossed for Eoin Rooney to score at the front post and bring the sides level.
This kick started Downpatrick, Kian Tierney won the ball on the right wing and crossed for Quinn to nod home at the back post to put Downpatrick in front. Just before halftime Thomas Fitzsimons rose highest at the back post to send a bullet header into the back of the net from a Quinn corner.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 3 v North End 1
The second half started with Downpatrick playing some of the best football they’ve played in weeks, this resulted in a wonderful ten pass move which finished when Philip Doran’s cross/shot was deflected into the North End goal. Moments later Doran was at it again this time he found Corey McCoubrey who volleyed home from the edge of the box to make it 5 – 1.
Tom Smyth then picked the ball up in midfield just after the restart, he passed the ball out to Rooney on the right and he then crossed to the back post for Smyth who had continued his run to finish the move that he started. With Downpatrick controlling the game, North End caught their defence in possession and scored their second of the game.
Kian Tierney won the ball just after the restart and sent a perfect cross in for Rooney to hit it on the volley into the bottom corner and score his second of the day. It was Tierney again, this time instead of setting up his team mates he decided to go it alone and hit a screamer from the edge of the box giving the North End keeper no hope to make it 8 – 2. Man of the match was Corey McCoubrey, his combativeness in the midfield insured his team had a comfortable win.
