Downpatrick Stumble To A Hungry Rosario

Rosario came out from the whistle attacking Downpatrick and earned a goal in two minutes after a corner with Rory McGilloway striking the back of the net after a run through the Downpatrick defence popping in it not under any pressure. [caption id="attachment_29976" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Downpatrick captain Neil Young heads a corner shot while team-mate Shorty Trueman looks on."][/caption] New signing James Telford from Ardglass was unlucky not to have headed in on his almost first touch and when Rosario responded it took a bruilliant reflex save from Downpatrick keeper Kieran Gordon to prevent calamity. Matthew Feenan, the other Ardglass signing, had a few golden moments in the game but he was not getting enough feeds to get his game flowing the way he likes.  Rosario kept the pressure up on the home side and Rosario’s Nial Dobbin volleyed a low shot to be saved by a quick reaction from midfielder Neil Young in the 23rd minute. Downpatrick were having trouble penetrating the  Rosario defence and they were facing the wind making it the challenge that bit more difficult for them. But more pain for Downpatrick when Lammon Carlin scored the best goal of the match when Rosario broke quickly catching Downpatrick off guard and he left footed a peach of a shot straight into the top corner from the edge of the penalty box in the 32nd minute. Downpatrick were now suffering a serious disadvantage. Frustration set in and at 34 minutes defender Joe McMahon  received a yellow card fro a heavy tackle. But if things could not get worse, Rosario found space in the 35th minute to play an easy ball through the middle and McGilloway slotted it in for number 3 for Rosario. But Downpatrick plodded on and a break by them soon after almost led to a goal by Declan Curran which proved they could strike effectively when they got their game together. [caption id="attachment_29977" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Mark Feenan weaves his way into the Rosario defence."][/caption] If three goals down at half time wasn’t bad enough, Rosario came out in the second half and scored a fourth in the first minute before Downpatrick settled.  Downpatrick manager Leo Kearney then sent on sub Peter McKenna to shake things up in the front line. Downpatrick did muster up a number of good attacks with Feenan getting in a couple of good shots on target. McKenna also had a great  long volley at the Rosario goal which just shaved the post. Rosario were looking too strong for Downpatrick and McGiloway who was having a good game ran through the middle of the defenders and beat keeper Gordon for his hat-trick. Even Downpatrick defender Christian Holland was unlucky when he lobbied a ball over the Rosario defenders just to see it sail over the bar by inches. But theer was some satisfaction for Downpatrick as Shorty Trueman who was having a good game made an excellent short pass to Feenan beating the defenders. Feenan took his shot well scoring  from the back of the box straight into the top right corner in the 42nd minute. Downpatrick were showing signs of fighting back, but the whistle put paid to their hopes of reducing the scoreline. Although Downpatrick did have issues of players not being available on the day, it must be said that Rosario looked the fitter team and that may have given them the edge as Downpatrick has the players and the skills, the hunger and drive will come as the season progresses… and the fitness.]]>