The seconds put on a master class against Saintfield on Saturday in sunny Dunleath, they produced their finest performance of the season, click on the link below to find out how…
Saturday 21st March – NADAFL Division 1
Downpatrick FC 7 v Saintfield AYC 0
It took Downpatrick just one minute to carve out the first chance as John Glennon fed Carlos Djalo down the inside right. The Portuguese shot flew harmlessly over the bar but it was a telling sign of the onslaught that was to come. The breakthrough arrived in the fourth minute when a lovely back heel from David Telford found his brother Peter down the centre whose low cross was not cleared properly by the defender. It fell to Chris Mullan, just inside the box, who made no mistake with the first time finish, blasting low in the corner.
Downpatrick continued to dominate but the Saints almost snatched an equaliser when Gary Trueman sliced a clearance over Paddy Kerr and bounced of the back post. The incident only spurred Downpatrick on and Sean Mcmahon twice came close with strikes before Mullan saw a fierce drive deflected over the bar.
The inevitable second goal duly arrived on 18 minutes with a moment of individual brilliance from Carlos. Drifting inside on to his right foot, the striker buried an unerring drive into the bottom corner of the visitors net to give the hosts a position of comfort. Djalo’s strike, his first for his new club, sparked more attacking play with Peter Telford having a shot saved and Paul O’Reilly bending wide after a purposeful gallop forward out of defence. Just before the half hour mark Chris Mullan carved out the third goal with a sumptuous flick in to Djalo before taking the return ball first time to beat the keeper at the near post.
Half Time: Downpatrick FC 3 v Saintfield AYC 0
Downpatrick carried the momentum into the second period and almost instantly forged further ahead as Mullan took an advantage of a spill from the Saints keeper. A cross from the left from Conaill Kerr seemed to be gathered up comfortably from the shot stopper but the loose ball on landing was poked into the open net by Mullan to secure his hat trick.
The Saint’s keeper had better luck moments later when he acrobatically kept out a close range McMahon shot, but he was soon picking the ball out of his net again Djalo coolly slotted home the hosts fifth goal following a neat exchange from strike partner McMahon. McMahon and Djalo demonstrated the predatory prowess running throughout Downpatick’s striking ranks as once the again the duo linked up to extend the hosts lead on 75 minutes. Djalo floated a fine ball over the top of the top goalscorer, who flicked it home on the volley past the helpless keeper.
Mullan rounded off a good afternoon with his fourth on 89 minutes. Djalo turned on the pace to breeze past a defender before arrowing the ball across goal for Mullan to slide in at the front post to make it seven. This was nothing more than the winger deserved. His vision and tenacious ball winning skills had been second to none and his link up play with Glennon, Telford and Downpatricks two strikers had frustrated the Saints.
This devastating incisive display of forward play gave Downpatrick a comfortable victory over Saintfield in one of the most convincing performances this season.
Downpatrick: 1) P Kerr 2) D Telford 3) B Fitzsimons 4) P O’Reilly 5) G Trueman 6) C Mullan 7) J Glennon 8) P Telford 9) C Kerr 10) S McMahon 11) C Djalo 12) C Curran 14) B Ford 15) C Curran.