Down seconds came within a whisker of taking a point from this Junior 3 clash at Deramore last Friday night.

The game was locked at 3-3 going into the closing stages when Harlequins produced a late equaliser, but Down should have been out of sight by this stage. The fact they weren't was due to the home 'keeper who was outstanding.

Michael Clarke had one of those nights when everything went his way; he produced save after save over the 70 minutes and was the main difference between two sides who produced some great hockey at times.

His first save came in the third minute denying Paul Tate and Adam McKee in quick succession and then his opposite number Carl Mullan produced a great stop to keep his side in the game. Three minutes later the Down 'keeper was at it again.

Down's Philip Brown was then denied by Clarke in the 20th minute before Mullan showed that anything Clarke could do, he could do better.

Harlequins took the lead in the 24th minute from a short corner after Down defenders missed a number of tackles but five minutes later the locals were back on level terms courtesy of a bullet strike from Brown.

Shaw McVeigh and Brian Hagan were involved in the build-up to the goal and when the ball came to Brown he couldn't have met it any sweeter. His blistering shot gave the 'keeper no chance.

David Ferris then took a goal-bound shot off the line to prevent the home side taking a 2-1 lead but, unfortunately for him, the ball fell to a Harlequins player who scored.

In the second period Down were keen to get back level but Richard Tarbotton lost possession and the visitors found themselves 3-1 in arrears.

Paul Tate and Gavin Ringland then played a neat one-two with the former scoring a cracking goal to heap the pressure back on Harlequins. McKee then produced a brilliant reverse stick shot which had "goal" written all over it, but Clarke produced a wonderful stick save.

Minutes later Clarke denied Paul Tate as Down started to dominate the game and Ringland was then thwarted by the 'keeper. McVeigh was then denied and it seemed it was only going to be a matter of time before the equaliser came.

Ferguson gave away a needles short corner but redeemed himself with a superb clearance and with 10 minutes to go Down had Harlequins penned in their own half. Surely the equaliser would come?

With nine minutes to go Ferguson sent McKee clear and when the latter looked up he picked out Paul Tate who rifled the ball past Clarke. Down looked as though they had salvaged something from the game but there was yet more drama.

With a minute to go Down gave away possession on the edge of the Harlequins penalty area and seconds later the ball was in the back of the visitors net. Down were left gutted. They had worked so hard to get back into the game but did not have the tactical awareness to hold on to the ball and run down the clock.