This derby encounter produced eight goals and was great advert for Junior 3 hockey.

Down switched the game from Malone Park to Comber Leisure Centre but after racing into a 3-1 lead they had to rely on a goal right at the death to secure a precious point.

Gavin Ringland scored a brilliant hat-trick for Down on the night while goalkeeper Carl Mullan was outstanding, producing a string of excellent saves. Elsewhere, Chris Ferguson also impressed.

Mullan produced his first top drawer save in the 12th minute and was in the thick of the action four minutes later when he blocked a short corner which had "goal" written all over it.

The game wasn't a classic but it sprung into life seven minutes before the break when Ringland scored his first goal. A Down free hit was drilled into the penalty are by Ferguson and Ringland was in the right place at the right time to score.

With less than a minute to go in the half, North Down should have equalised, but Shannon's shot flew past the wrong side of the post. Down were keen to build on their slender advantage in the second half and did exactly that but not before Mullan had produced a brilliant double save.

 Eight minutes into the half Adam McKee started the move which led to his side's second goal. He made a pulsating 30-yard run which earned his side a short corner and when Ferguson's shot was saved, Ringland hammered home the rebound.

North Down kept attacking and Mullan again made a great save in the 45th minute while McKee blasted wide at the other end moments later after great work by Ringland. But the big midfielder then went from hero to zero when he inexplicably picked out a North Down player with a brilliant pass and the visitors' striker fired home to make it 2-1.

Ferguson kept his side in the game with a superb goal-line clearance and moments later Ringland produced a sublime finish from a short corner. It appeared the angle he faced was too tight, but he picked a spot in the top corner of the net with a perfectly executed drag flick.

The home side then fell asleep and North Down scored to make it 3-2 and then Ringland produced a great block tackle to rob a forward a clear shot on goal. But with eight minutes to go North Down scored to make it 3-3 and three minutes later they took the lead for the first time in the game.

With five minutes to go, Down charged forward but they were caught on the break and Mullan, not for the first time, produced a great double save to keep his side in the hunt.

Down were awarded a short corner a second before the final whistle sounded and with the set piece allowed to take place, Ferguson saw his shot saved by the North Down 'keeper, but the ball broke to McKee who drilled it home to secure a precious point.