Red Devils come from behind to beat Mournemen

County Down 1

IN spite of taking an early lead, County Down’s Premier team went down 3-1 to Milk Cup holders Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Slemish Trophy at the Warren in Portstewart on Wednesday.

County Down made a dream start with a goal after just five minutes. Sean Morgan crossed from the left. Glenn Stephenson’s first-time shot hit the underside of the bar and Ryan Craig tucked in the rebound from eight yards.

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The local lads held the lead for merely two minutes. Calum Birney’s clearance was charged down and Luke Hendrie rifled a shot in off the underside of the bar.

Despite conceding so soon after taking the lead, Down went on the offensive. Scott Burns dispossessed Hendrie in the 14th minute and unleashed a 35-yard shot that had Liam Jacob beaten. Unfortunately for County Down, the ball came back off the crossbar.

Manchester United scored a second goal in the 18th minute. John Cofie found space in behind the Down defence and managed to nip in ahead of Shane Harrison to double the United lead.

County Down hit the woodwork for a third time after 32 minutes. Ryan Craig laid the ball off to Kyle Cherry and his rasping shot from 30 yards rebounded back off the bar.

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The Red Devils fired another warning shot with five minutes remaining. Barmby broke down the left but steered his shot into the side-netting.

United wrapped things up with two minutes of normal time left. Substitute Thomas Lawrence waltzed past two County Down defenders before slotting into the bottom corner of the net.

Team: Harrison, Battersby, Bell, Birney, Allen, Cherry, Healey, Burns, Stephenson, Morgan, Craig. Subs: Curran-Cochrane, Gallacher, Jackson.

Subs not used: Wallace, Forsythe, Gordon.

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