Down seconds were left scratching their heads after this home defeat at the hands of Bangor fifths last Saturday.

The shale pitch at Malone Park was in perfect condition despite horrendous rain for most of last Friday, but the slick surface did not match the home side’s finishing.

Down had five clear chances to take the lead before Bangor went ahead against the run of play in the ninth minute. And while the home side continued to push the visitors back, they lacked a killer touch in front of goal.

Lewis McIntosh and Andy Teggart were off target too often during the game. Had the Down forwards converted even half the chances that came their way, the locals would have at worst forced a draw or, at best, sneaked a win.

Skipper Mark Graham had a great game on the right wing, but it was Bangor's experienced quintet, which included midfield general Raymond Parker, who ran the show all afternoon. The home side’s young players need to learn from what went wrong last Saturday. Not only did they miss a hatful of chances, they couldn’t keep their shape and play with anticipation.

James Erskine had to be alerted in the opening minutes to clear two Bangor attacks before home skipper Graham teed up Teggart whose first time shot was blocked by the ‘keeper. A minute later a screaming shot from Gary Brown from the edge of the penalty area had "goal" written all over it, but the 'keeper somehow managed to get a touch on the ball to keep it out.

Matthew Lennon then should have given Down the lead in the eighth minute before the visitors opened their account very much against the run of play. A free hit drilled into the Down penalty area was deflected goalwards by an alert forward, but 'keeper David Moreland produced a point blank save. As the rebound spun back out, the home defenders were guilty of ball watching as a forward tucked home the rebound.

Liam Kearney’s great run set up Graham, but his shot was saved before the Down skipper set up McIntosh who squandered a great opportunity to grab the equaliser.

Erskine cleared his lines with two minutes of the half to go and with the umpires about to blow, Bangor rammed a dagger through Down hearts when they made it 2-0.

Brown set up McIntosh with the first attack of the game in the second half but the young striker's control let him down, before Moreland made a great save at the other end to keep his side in with a chance of taking something from the game.

Skipper Graham then saw another rasping shot saved, while Lennon was also denied by the ‘keeper. With 10 minutes to go, Bangor scored to make it 3-0 during a goalmouth scramble. With three minutes to go McIntosh looked as though he was about to grab a consolation, but his shot was well saved.