Downpatrick continued their winning ways after the cup success in midweek, click on the link to read more…
Saturday 25th November – NAFL Premier Division
Malachians FC 1 v Downpatrick FC 8
Fresh from their midweek cup triumph Downpatrick travelled to play Malachians in confident mood as they looked to put a few points on the board and start to climb away from the bottom. Downpatrick have threatened to score plenty of goals in recent games but haven’t managed to convert their chances but this all changed at the Shore Road.
Downpatrick opened the scoring just before the ten minute mark when striker Peter Telford got in front of the defender and flicked a Barry Teacy free kick with his head looping into the back of the net. Philip Traynor doubled their advantage two minutes later, Jack McLaughlin collected the ball from Blaine Connolly before finding Traynor who played a one two with Telford and was left with the simplest of tasks of tapping the ball into the empty net.
Midfielder Andy Baggley was the architect for the visitor’s third goal when he deceived the Malachians players with the perfect drag back before playing the ball through for Traynor to go one on one with the keeper and slide the ball past him. Just on the half time whistle Jack McLaughlin latched onto an Aaron McGarry pass and gave the Malachians keeper no chance.
Half Time: Malachians FC 0 v Downpatrick FC 4
Just as he did before half time Jack McLaughlin scored almost immediately after the restart, this time it was Neil Taggart who played the winger in and he again made no mistake with finding the back of the net to make it five. Ten minutes later Ricky Kerr scored the goal of the game when he cut in from the right hand side and curled a superb left foot shot into the top corner from 20 yards. Malachians scored a dubious penalty shortly after when Barry Treacy was judged to have fouled the striker.
Telford scored his second goal of the game to make it seven nil when he volleyed home with his left foot after Traynor crossed from the right wing. With ten minutes remaining Philip Traynor completed his hat-trick, the Downpatrick striker went on a trademark run evading a few tackles and just when it looked like he had lost the ball he regained control to fire the ball to the back of the net and make it eight.
The Downpatrick management were very happy with today’s performance, goals were spread throughout the team with Traynor quite rightly getting the headlines, everyone worked hard and they felt this was dictated in the first ten minutes by striker Peter Telford. The Downpatrick number nine didn’t let the Malachians players settle at all and ultimately set the tone for the rest of the players.
Downpatrick: 1) K Gordon 2) A McGarry 3) B Connolly 4) N Taggart 5) S Douglas 6) A Baggley 7) B Treacy 8) R Kerr 9) P Telford 10) P Traynor 11) J McLaughlin 12) J Healy 14) C McCarron 15) C McKenna
