Downey’s ‘worst’ game is totally tops for Town

If Conor Downey puts in more of his ‘worst’ performances of the season, Banbridge Town might just be happy enough.
No goalkeeper will relish going face to face with in-form Town striker Conor Downey on current form. INBL1543-272PBNo goalkeeper will relish going face to face with in-form Town striker Conor Downey on current form. INBL1543-272PB
No goalkeeper will relish going face to face with in-form Town striker Conor Downey on current form. INBL1543-272PB

The forward netted his fourth goal in three games on Saturday to secure a 1-0 win over Wakehurst.

However, the Town man wasn’t totally satisfied with his winning performance.

“That was probably the worst I’ve played this season but if I can get a goal to win the game, I’m happy,” he said.

Downey was also keen to usher much of the praise for recent form onto his team-mates.

He said: “A lot of it is down to the quality of the crosses and balls into the box. The lads are creating chances. I just do the small bit at the end.

“It’s just good to see things coming together because we’ve all been working hard and at the start of the season, we weren’t getting any rewards.”

Town had been languishing near the foot of the table until a recent upturn in form brought with it nine points from their last six Championship Two matches.

“I don’t think anything has changed,” said Downey, puzzled by the difference in fortunes. “Maybe it’s just down to luck.

“Getting James Wilson back form injury has been a boost for us though. He gives us a stable back four and having Chris McGrath in midfield alongside Kevy (Anderson) makes us very solid in midfield as well.

“Whichever one of our two keepers plays, they both have done well, keeping us in games and keeping clean sheets.

“When we look back at last year, we were barely keeping any clean sheets so it’s great to be doing that. There’s no point in me scoring if we can’t keep the other team out and the boys have been doing that well.”

After making experienced summer signings such as Stuart Thompson from Distillery and Ryan Moffatt from Loughgall, hopes were high that Town could mount a credible challenge for promotion.

“There was a lot of expectation on us with the players we signed,” conceded Downey. “Things started badly but we all did believe that things were going to come right.

“We know we’ve lost a lot of ground and have lost points to teams we were expected to beat but there are still a lot of points to play for.

Kevin Anderson was saying recently that the year he was promoted with Warrenpoint, they had a bad start too but went on a good run and ended up going up.

“We just have to keep going. There is an aim of promotion but after being in the position we were in, we’re not looking any further forward than the next game.”

Town have no game this weekend and are next in action when they welcome Dundela to Crystal Park on Saturday 28th November as 11th hosts 10th.

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