Match Report

Match : Club Team v Down
Date : 2002-04-20
Venue : H
Score : 6-2
Scorers : Swann(2), Currie(2), Menaul, Caldwell

By Captain

East Antrim returned to their former home for a one-off match against Down. The match was supposed to be a recreation of the
first ever game East Antrim played in 1902.

The game started well for East Antrim. Paul Reid caused danger on the right flank, Leon Currie got involved in the circle
and the ball broke loose for Swann to hammer home - reverse stick half-volley style.

The game was one-way traffic with Caldwell, Higginson and Greer dominating the midfield area. Goals were going to be easy
to come by, it seemed... Menaul went walkabout from his defensive duties to pile-drive the ball goalwards. A deflection
ensured that his name would appear on the scoresheet. "Simply The Best" Currie got in on the act with a poacher's goal.

Chances were squandered as well, however. Swann, Currie and Higginson - especially Higginson - were all guilty of trying
to over-elaborate in front of goal.

Half-time... 3-0... Higginson was advised to stay away from the opponents circle. Did he listen? Obviously not... At the
start of the second half, he managed to miss an empty net from less than 2 inches from the goal-line.

Currie got another and decided that he needed a hat-trick... which did not materialise. Caldwell capped another energetic
display with a goal before turning provider at the death - Swann storming in at the back post to drill the ball into the
net for his second of the game.

Down did make a fight of the second half though... Michael Jackson (74) kept a clean sheet in the first half... Paul Fraser
(19) and 1st XI keeper, did not. Two goals were plundered by the County Down men...

Michael Jackson/Paul Fraser
Jim Strange
Eddie Baird
Alan Murphy
David Menaul
Paul Grant
James Greer
David Caldwell
Scott Higginson
Paul Reid
Stephen Swann
Leon Currie

Michael Jackson