Down denied cup final slot in shoot-out

Down denied cup final slot in shoot-out

3 December 2014

DOWN were one converted penalty stroke away from upsetting the form book and securing a place in the New Year’s Day Sussex Regiment Cup final last Sunday.

After this pulsating semi-final clash ended 2-2 following extra time at Deramore, the tie would be decided from the penalty spot and with Down leading 4-3, all Mark Elliott had to do was score to dump Cliftonville out of the competition.

Unfortunately for the locals, the normally reliable Elliott missed, with Cliftonville going on to win a game they struggled in for periods.

Down took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Paul Tate and Jordan Wade made it 2-0 within seven minutes of the restart. The locals stuck with the 11 who started the game, with the continuity paying a handsome divided until the closing stages when fatigue set in.

The Belfast side pulled one back with 11 minutes to go and drew level in the closing stages. Down were bitterly disappointed they were not awarded a penalty corner  nera the end of normal time when Chris Taylor was fouled while about to step into the circle to shoot on goal.

Taylor was superb at the back for Down alongside Gavin Ringland and James Erskine, while Aaron Ferris’s pace on the wing was causing the Cliftonville defence all sorts of problems. The Belfast side produced its first shot on goal in the 13th minute but David Hurley’s shot lacked pace and was easily dealt with by Jeremy McCready.

A minute later, Elliott was unlucky not to give Down the lead after some great build-up play involving Jordan Aidey and Tate. Mike McKimm then whipped a dangerous ball into the Down penalty area a minute later but Erskine kept his composure to clear his lines.

Jordan Wade, who was a workhorse in the middle of the park and one of the side’s top performers, was robbed off possession in the 19th minute as he was about to pull the trigger and the chance was gone.

Duff controlled a high ball in the air in the 26th minute with Hurley waiting behind to pounce on any slip-up, while the Cliftonville ‘keeper was forced to make his first save of the game with two minutes of the half remaining.

On the stroke of half-time, Duff started the sweeping move which led to Down’s opening goal. His surging run picked out Tate who produced a crisp finish.

Cliftonville were keen to get back on level terms after the restart and when Jarryd Allen saw his name in lights with the ball at his stick, Taylor pounced to clear the danger.

Cliftonville skipper Steve Boyd then denied Aidey at the other end. Taylor and White then exchanged passes with the latter drilling the ball agonisingly past the wrong side of the post.

With 28 minutes to go, Wade scored a peach of a goal. Collecting a pass from Elliott he powered his way into the penalty area before unleashing a thunderbolt of a shot which flew past Cliftonville ‘keeper Mark Holmes before he had time to set himself.

A dangerous Ferris cross was then cleared before Cliftonville were awarded the game’s first short corner in the 51st minute and two minutes later Erskine produced a brilliant clearance close to his own goalline.

The Belfast side made it 2-1 with 11 minutes to go when Curragh’s short corner strike flew into the net courtesy of a wicked deflection of Duff’s stick. Ferris then won Down’s first short corner at the other end with White’s blistering drive again flashing wide.

In the closing stages Cliftonville persistence paid off when Hurley made it 2-2 but he should never been allowed to score with the Down defence guilty of ball watching.

The sides could not be separated following two periods of extra time, with Down’s Taylor, White, Tate and Duff scoring their penalty strokes to lead 4-3. Elliott missed chance to put his side into the final  andCliftonville converted to make a sudden death shoot out. Whoever missed next was out.

Taylor scored his second from the spot and while Al Cardy made it 5-5 with his effort going in off the post, Sinclair White missed to allow Chris Curring to book his side’s place in the final.

Final score: Down 2 Cliftonville 2 (Cliftonville win 5-4 on penalties).

Down: Jeremy McCready, Gavin Ringland, James Erskine, Chris Taylor, Alasdair Duff, Jordan Wade, Jordan Aidey, Aaron Ferris, Sinclair White, Paul Tate, Mark Elliott. Subs Lewis McIntosh, Liam Kearney.