Down are still looking for their first points of the new season.
The locals lost again last Saturday against the PSNI and while they did go close to grabbing a late equaliser, they know they must improve.
Down played well in fits and starts last weekend, but there's clearly something lacking at the moment. Phil Spaughton fired wide for the home side in the fifth minute and when David Ferris left his man free in the 17th minute he was delighted to see his 'keeper, Mark Johnston, produce a smart save.
Two minutes later at the other end PSNI 'keeper Davy Stewart did well to keep a goal-bound shot from Mark Elliott out of the net after some excellent build-up play involving Gavin Ringland.
PSNI took the lead in the 23rd minute through Simon Martin who was left all alone in the middle of the Down penalty area to pick his spot past Johnston. Mark Graham then set up Elliott at the other end but the visiting striker's shot flew wide.
Chris Ferguson was given a yellow card in the 29th minute after committing two fouls in quick succession before Johnston produced a great save from a short corner which had needlessly been conceded by James Erskine.
With just over a minute until the break, Elliott again went close after great work by Adam McKee, with the former denied by Stewart in the PSNI goal.
Martin should have put the home side 2-0 ahead within minutes of the restart but his shot struck the base of the post and rebounded to safety. Within minutes they were back on level terms with Ferguson and McKee the architects of Elliott's goal before Sinclair White, who was making his first appearance of the season, almost gave Down the lead moments later but he screwed his shot wide of the post.
Johnny Orr scored to give the PSNI a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute before Spaughton was red-carded. Seven minutes later Erskine was also red-carded and Johnston was then yellow-carded leaving Down with nine players on the pitch, forcing White to take over in goal.
The visitors threw caution to the wind in the closing stages and with two minutes to go, Richard Tarbotton opted to shoot when he had both Ferguson and McKee standing free in acres of space inside the penalty area.