Down seconds defeated derby rivals Saintfield seconds at Malone Park last weekend.

Young Matthew Lennon weighed in with a double for the home side whose other goal was scored by Mark Graham.

Saintfield were forced to travel with just eight men and while they were able to add two more players at the start of the second half, they couldn't do enough to take something from the game.

Down are relying heavily on their up and coming young players and once again Lennon, Ryan Swail and William Fryer did extremely well.

Saintfield scored the opening goal in this Junior 6 encounter when home 'keeper David Moreland was beaten, but he produced a number of timely saves over the 70 minutes to keep his side very much in the game.

Mark Graham, who was one of Down's top performers, grabbed the equaliser in the 19th minute when he fired home after jinking his way past a couple of Saintfield defenders.

Neither side was able to score again before the break, going in on level terms with all to play for in the second period.

Lennon made it 2-1 within five minutes of the restart, The teenager has a nose for goals and when Graham's shot was saved by the 'keeper, Lennon's lighting quick reactions saw him tuck the ball over the line with the Saintfield defenders guilty of ball watching.

But the best was still to come from Lennon, with his second goal a touch of pure class from one still learning his trade.

Collecting the ball in the penalty area he drew the 'keeper before producing a sublime finish, lifting the ball over the netminder into the roof of the net.

Saintfield pulled a goal back in the closing stages, but Down always had enough in the tank to hold on to collect maximum points. There were notable performances at the back from Clifford Lennon and Robert Carberry, while the young guns in front of them provide the club with great heart for the future.