County Down took on Partick Thistle at Anderson Park in Coleraine and it was the local side who started the better as Jake Corbett played in Callum Ferris before his shot sailed just wide of the target . County Down were playing some fantastic football keeping possession extremely well, frustrating their Scottish opponents . It was County Down who deservedly took the lead as Caolan Conlon was played in, one on one with the Partick goalkeeper, to hit it low into the bottom right-hand corner .
A perfect start then from County Down and it was only going to get better, as they nearly went two ahead when Sam Dinu picked up the ball from deep, he drove towards the Partick defence before playing in Ferris again, as he was about to shoot he was well tackled from Aiden Fitzpatrick . Thistle’s first chance came on thirteen minutes as George Nolans long ball fell to Paul Gordon but his shot was well saved by Dylan Stewart, spreading himself well to block the shot .
County Down looked confident and did go 2-0 ahead through Corbett, who is from Dromore and currently applying his trade at Belfast club Crusaders, as he scored with a fine looping header at the back post from a wonderful cross from the right, putting the local side in the driving seat . The fans were really enjoying how County Down were playing, keeping Thistle at bay and not allowing them to progress into the danger area.
On the stroke of half-time, County Down had their third as Ferris was tripped in the box and up stepped the captain Daniel Smith to smash the ball home to surely seal the points. Callum Ferris was very impressive for County Down, showing great feet and holding off a strong, physical Patrick Thistle side with his power.
County Down started the second half the same as they finished the first, very much on the front foot as centre-back Ruari O’Hare came close with a header from a Sam Dinu cross heading the ball just wide of the target . Partick goalkeeper Luke Scullion was keeping the score down, making several key saves, first from Ferris, denying Down a fourth, as he dove at the strikers feet just when he was about to pull the trigger,
Partick’s first real chance of the game came through Adam Moss but his shot was well blocked by O’Hare, as he shot towards goal. County Down then started to make silly mistakes, O’Hare’s lapse of concentration allowed Paul Gordon to pull the ball back for Evan Galasso but before he could shoot, Stewart was out to claim the ball off his feet .
Patrick however did pull a goal back through Galasso as he scored a beautiful back heeled goal, turning in a low cross from the impressive Jordan Kemoe but this was the last action of the match, as County Down eased to victory .