DAWFL BILLY ALLEN MEMORIAL SHIELD
NORTH DOWN FC 4
43RD DUNDONALD 0
Dennis S Nash reports from Londonderry Park
NORTH Down booked their place in the third round of the Billy Allen Memorial Shield with a comfortable win over in-form 43rd Dundonald at Londonderry Park.
Second-half goals from Daniel Orr, Jordan McMillan and Stephen McDowell to add to Conor Munn’s early effort saw the Newtownards team past the Division Two leaders as they set up a clash against fellow Premier Division outfit Corrymeela.
Playing towards the Old Shore Road end of the park in the first 45 minutes, North Down started in early aggressive mode and a hopeful shot from range by Matthew Boyd was just over the goal frame.
In response Neil Makinson twice tried to switch concentration towards Christopher Carruthers’ goal, but on both occasions his intentions were halted by the offside flag.
The early forward threat from both attacking units suggested an early score could be on the cards and, with only 8 minutes gone, that was what transpired.
North Down had certainly taken over the early attacking reins and when Matthew Boyd’s free-kick from the left was delivered into the 43rd goalmouth, Conor Munn reacted to crash in the opener.
The visitors rushed into attack on the restart but home ’keeper Carruthers was again quick to smother the intention. Matthew Boyd and Stuart Hanna were working well down the North Down left with the majority of attacking play in favour of the hosts at this stage.
Dundonald custodian Neil Edgar was kept busy as North Down hunted for a second while at the other end John McAlonan remained in constant search of a breakthrough for 43rd, but the interval arrived with the hosts holding a slender lead.
In the early stages of the second half both North Down’s Daniel Orr and McAlonan for the visitors threatened to add to the scoreline, before Orr was denied from the penalty spot after 55 minutes when his effort was pushed aside with a brilliant swooping dive from Neil Edgar.
North Down captain Morgan Spiers supplied a series of crosses after convincing movement down the right, but the home side’s lead was still fragile as the half progressed.
Then, on 69 minutes, Orr atoned for the earlier missed penalty as he stretched the North Down advantage to 2-0.
That would spark the hosts into life, with substitute Jordan McMillan sending an effort just over the bar before he went on to add the third goal on 73 minutes. And moments later Stephen McDowell rounded off the scoring as he swept the home side to a fully-deserved 4-0 victory.
THE MATCH CARD
North Down FC: Christopher Carruthers, Stephen McDowell, Stuart Hannah, Ally Skillen, Conor Munn, Morgan Spiers (C), Daniel Orr, Jason McKee, Matthew Boyd, Philip Hannah, Stewart Leitch.
Substitutes: Jordan McMillan, Graeme Fullerton, David Vance, William McMillan.
Officials: William McMillan, Mark McMaster, Iain Hannah.
43rd Dundonald: Neil Edgar, Dylan Galloway, Josh Williamson, Nathan Baker (C), Steven Kitchen, Craig Morrow, Sam Dickson, Neil Makinson, John McAlonan, Jordan Boles, Jake Craig.
Substitutes: Phil Leckey, Carter McVeigh, Daryl Monaghan.
Officials: Alan Whittle, William Bailie, Paul Simpson, Iain Dickson.
