Downpatrick suffer another league defeat despite battling back from two goals down to draw level, click on the link below to read more…
Saturday 11th November – NAFL Premier Division
1st Bangor OB 3 v Downpatrick FC 2
Downpatrick warmed up for their eagerly anticipated Border Cup match against neighbours Killyleagh with a performance littered with individual mistakes and some sublime football which ultimately ended in defeat. Downpatrick’s woes continued which has seen them only pick up four points out of a possible thirty.
The home side were gifted their opening goal inside the first five minutes when there was a mix up in the Downpatrick defence which allowed the 1st Bangor striker to ghost in and place the ball past the helpless Kieran Gordon in the Downpatrick net. For the remainder of the half Gordon was nothing more than a spectator as Downpatrick controlled the game but just couldn’t find the killer touch to put the ball in the back of the net. Philip Traynor was unlucky to see his effort cannon of the crossbar and rebound to safety.
Half Time: 1st Bangor OB 1 v Downpatrick FC 0
Downpatrick came out in the second half in search of the equaliser but again found the home keeper in inspired form making saves from Traynor, Conor McCarron and Barry Treacy. The home side doubled their advantage on the seventy minute mark when the Downpatrick defence were dispossessed and they found themselves in a two on one situation with Gordon and comfortably found the back of the net.
Credit to the Downpatrick players and management, it would have been very easy for them to give up especially with the run of results they’ve been having lately but the likes of Andy Baggley, Conor McKenna and Philip Traynor inspired the other players to roll up their sleeves and go in search of getting back into the game.
With ten minutes remaining their hard work paid off, Stephen Douglas worked the ball into midfield to Baggley, he took a touch before finding Barry Treacy on the right wing. The wingers first time ball found midfielder McKenna who showed his vision to spot the run of Baggley into the box and played the perfect ball to find his feet. The Downpatrick midfielder calmly side-footed the ball into the back of the net to make it 2 – 1.
As the game entered the final five minutes Downpatrick forced a number of corners, Treacy whipped in his trademark cross which was dealt with by the Bangor defence but the ball fell to Douglas, the Downpatrick defender crossed the ball first time and was met by Ricky Kerr who sent his bullet like header past the stranded Bangor keeper.
Downpatrick sensed the opportunity to complete the ultimate comeback as they continued to put 1st Bangor under pressure and as the game entered the 90th minute they won another corner. 1st Bangor cleared the ball out to the right wing area before a long punt up field allowed the home-side to counter-attack, more hesitation at the back offered the home striker to nip in and secure all three points for his team.
Downpatrick: 1) K Gordon 2) S Douglas 3) C Holland 4) N Taggart 5) C McKenna 6) A Baggley 7) B Treacy 8) R Kerr 9) C McCarron 10) P Traynor 11) A McGarry 12) A McCoubrey 14) B Fitzsimons 15) J Healy
