Nine man Down seconds were just seconds away from pulling off a remarkable victory in this Junior 6 game at Shawsbridge.

No one gave the locals a chance and while two men short you wouldn't have noticed it on the pitch, with young guns Jordan Aidey and Jordan Wade star performers in the middle of the park.

The visitors had the temerity to take the lead in the 15th minute. Jordan Wade raced along the wing and crossed for Aaron Ferris to poke the ball home.

At the other end, goalkeeper Eoin Toner again impressed with a number of good saves and he is one that could make the step up to the senior squad in the near future.

Instonians scored a scrappy goal to level things at 1-1 before Ferris made it 2-1 in the 45th minute with something of a wonder goal.

Picking the ball up on the halfway line he raced along the wing before carrying the ball along the bye-line and from what looked an impossible goal, somehow squeezed the ball past the 'keeper into the net.

Down were playing like men possessed and incredibly made it 3-1 when Wade scored after good work by Ferris and the industrious Lewis McIntosh.

Given their numerical advantage, Instonians made the most of the extra space they had and scored to make it 3-2.

Down were now holding on and it was backs-to-the-wall stuff. With just over a minute to go the Belfast side scored to level the game at 3-3.

The visitors played out of their skins and while thrilled with a point, deep down they were wondering what might have been.