Telford sprinkles magic in thriller

16 August 2017

A MOMENT of sheer footballing magic settled this enterprising encounter at Rosconnor on Saturday afternoon.

A new-look Downpatrick side were struggling to find a winner, despite creating several chances, but all that changed in the 73rd minute.

Goalkeeper Steven Keenan fed Tony McIlhone out on the left flank in the 73rd minute. His searing pass from inside his own half sent Philip Traynor scampering past his marker and surging into the box.

There was still nothing on, but Traynor’s incisive run split Lisburn wide open and when he played the ball across the six yard box, Andrew Telford was perfectly placed to drill it home.

This was no more than Downpatrick deserved against an experienced Lisburn side full of former Irish League players and although harder challenges lie ahead, the performances of the McCoubrey brothers — Adrian and Andrew — and substitutes Conor McCarron and Joseph Healy will have really pleased manager Joe McMahon.

Downpatrick, fielding only two players who started in last season’s Border Cup final, put in the hard yards early on in a bid to seize the initiative, but the visitors were having none of it.

The combatants in midfield cancelled each other out in a war of attrition with chances at a minimum. The respective defences were also on top and nothing of note, other than honest endeavour, happened in the first 25 minutes.

However, Lisburn Rangers broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when Ryan Burton pounced to drill the ball home after the dangerous Nathan McConnell had two shots blocked.

There was now a new urgency about Downpatrick and three minutes later Traynor flashed one over the bar after good work from McIlhone.

The equaliser wasn’t long in coming and with 32 minutes gone McIlhone got on the end of a Stephen Douglas cross after a bit of ping pong to make it 1-1.

Downpatrick lost Niall Walsh after he picked up an injury midway through the first half and replaced him just after the break with McCarron. The young striker set about giving Rangers a whole set of new problems and he belied his tender years with an accomplished display up top.

With 49 minutes gone he left his marker for dead, but his low cross was inches away from connecting with Traynor. Two minutes later Traynor shot straight at the ‘keeper after being released by Andrew McCoubrey.

Rangers continued to threaten on the break and Burton almost restored their lead, but he was unable to get on the end of Prentice’s cross.

Traynor and Telford combined at the other end to carve out an opening for McCarron, but he fired wide. Downpatrick were now in the ascendancy and Telford and Traynor both had efforts before the home side hit the jackpot with Telford’s superb strike.

Downpatrick simply closed up shop at the back after this and were happy to hit Rangers on the break with Barry Fitzsimons, Neil Teggart,

Douglas and Charlie Holland in total control.

Downpatrick FC: S Keenan, B Fitzsimons, C Holland, N Walsh, N Teggart, Adrian McCoubrey, T McIlhone, B Treacy, Andrew McCoubrey, P Traynor, S Douglas. Subs: C McCarron, A Telford, J Healy.

Lisburn Rangers: M Watson, J McDowell, N McKillion, C Beckett, E McKim, P McCann, R Burton, R McCann, G Browne, N McConnell, N Prentice. Subs: J Adams, A Irwin, B White.

Tweets by @TheDownRecorder