Premier squad shows plenty of 'Hart' in opening fixture

Hartlepool 1

COUNTY Down substitute Scott Burns scored with his first touch as the Premier team came from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool on Monday at Rugby Avenue in Coleraine.

Down skipper Shane Harrison was called into action in the 13th minute, reacting smartly to keep out a Christopher Dodds shot.

Four minutes later, Thomas Healey had the ball in the Hartlepool net. Unfortunately for the local lads, his header from a Ryan Craig flick-on was ruled out for offside.

Hartlepool took the lead on the stroke of half-time and against the run of play. Jordan Richards crossed from the right to Steven Snaith who cracked a looping-volley over the head of Harrison from 25 yards.

County Down were reduced to ten men just seconds into the second half. Snaith raced onto a ball over the top of the Down defence. Calum Birney gave chase but upended the Hartlepool striker in the process and was shown a straight red card.

Jordan Richards hit the outside of Harrison’s post from the resultant free-kick and the Down looked to be on the ropes.

Christopher Curran-Cochrane and Scott Burns were introduced by Donald Malomo-Paris in an attempt to get County Down back on level terms. The changes worked immediately as Thomas Healey picked out Burns, who caressed the ball first-time into the corner of the net.

In spite of being down to 10 men it was County Down that finished the stronger. Thomas Healey’s cross with two minutes remaining just evaded Jamie Jackson at the back post. Healey then grazed the outside of the Hartlepool post with a left foot effort that almost crept into the net.

Deep into stoppage-time striker Curran-Cochrane surged forward and tried his luck. His right foot shot though was tame and easily gathered by Liam Mooney in the Hartlepool goal.

Team: Harrison, Forsythe, Gordon, Birney, Allen, Robinson, Cherry, Healey, Stephenson, Craig, Morgan. Subs: Battersby, Burns, Curran-Cochrane, Gallagher, Jackson.

Unused subs: Wallace, Bell.