NAFL
Downpatrick 2nds 3 Â Ballyvea 2nds 1
Downpatrick continued with a routine win over Ballyvea seconds at Dunleath on Saturday. They should have been four or five up at half-time but were guilty of missing enough chances to win three games and were made to pay when Ballyvea scored on there only attack of the first half in the half hour mark.
Downpatrick pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded when Liam Graham scored directly from a free kick from about 25 yards out with a great strike after striker Sean McMahon had been fouled.
Half Time: Downpatrick 2nds 1 – Ballyvea 2nds 1
The second half was the same as the first with Downpatrick missing chance after chance and their management may of been guilty of thinking it was going to be one of those days, but eventually the 2nd came when Andy Baggley ran on to a through ball from Paul Brady and made no mistake driving home from ten yards out giving the Ballyvea keeper no chance.
Downpatrick were then awarded a penalty which McMahon failed to convert with a tame effort which caused the player to get frustrated and in the end managed to get himself sent off needlessly and put his team mates under pressure for the last ten minutes.Downpatrick regrouped and weathered the storm for a few minutes and decided attack was best form of defence and pushed for the 3rd and they got what they deserved when Graham ran on to a great ball after Baggley had done the hard graft and made no mistake drilling home from just inside the area.
The home side always looked in control but were guilty of not being clinical enough in front of goal when really they should have been well out of sight at half time but made life difficult for themselves, but overall was a good team performance with the only stain the needless red card for the Downpatrick striker.Downpatrick:Â 1) R Hagan 2) C McGrady 3) J Kent 4) M Carson 5) V Perry 6) P Brady 7) L Graham 8) A Baggley 9) C Killen 10) S McMahon 11) M Burns 12) G Ross 14) S Matheson 15) C Kerr
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