A hard working performance was enough for the under 15’s to see off Ballyclare Colts on Saturday, click on the link to read more…
Saturday 6th February – Lisburn Invitational Junior League under 15’s
Downpatrick FC 2 v Ballyclare Colts 1
Ballyclare started the game on the front foot and pressed Downpatrick every time-time they got on the ball, the first ten minutes of the game was played in the Downpatrick half of the pitch. Ballyclare created a few early chances but the Downpatrick defence stood strong and kept them at bay, with keeper Shane Campbell pulling off a few good saves to keep his side in the game.
Eventually Downpatrick started to get a foothold in the game, with Corey McCoubrey and Oistin Devlin hunting the ball down in the middle of the park they were able to start bringing their own players into the game and were creating chances for the lively Declan Looney and Eoin Rooney. After 22 minutes McCoubrey picked the ball up on the edge of the centre circle dribbled past one man and this created the space for him to hit a rocket from all of 35 yards to give his side the lead. Downpatrick had to work really hard to keep this very physical Ballyclare side at bay in what became an end to end climax to the first half with both sides creating chances.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 1 v Ballyclare 0
Again Ballyclare started quick and punished the Downpatrick players for not closing down on the edge of their own box, the Ballyclare striker got in between the two centre halves and levelled the game. At this stage Ballyclare were beginning to dominate the midfield battle, so Brandon Boyd moved into the middle of the park and the introduction of Niall Strange gave Downpatrick more of a presence, this had an immediate impact with Boyd setting up a string of chances for Rooney and Rauiri Quinn but the Ballyclare rearguard stood strong.
With Boyd dictating the game he had the awareness to spot the run of Eoin Rooney, he curled a pass that Rooney latched onto without even breaking stride he beat his marker, drove into the box and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net to put his side in front. This set the game up for a frantic final ten minutes but with Tom Smyth, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Adam Jervis and Kyle McKeever marshalling their defence Downpatrick held onto their lead and the 3 points.
