Ards 7-1 1st Bangor Old Boys

Five goals from new boy Joe Finlay before half-time ensured Ards weren't troubled in this friendly game at a bitterly cold Billy Neill Playing Fields.

Finlay was joined on his first appearance by Ards' other new signing Craig McMillen, who has returned to the club after a season and a half at HW Welders. Ards dominated much of the opening twenty minutes with James Cully putting a header over the top and then a 1st Bangor defender turning the ball onto his own crossbar.

Ards keeper McKibbin was troubled only once, when he had to tip a shot by his near post. The game's opening goal came out of nothing on 27 minutes. Finlay, with the ball at his feet, simply spied an opening and let go with a low shot from around 24 yards that found the bottom corner.

The lead was doubled five minutes later when Kyle McDowell broke clean away on the left hand side and crossed for Aaron McKee. His shot was charged down at close range but Finlay was alert enough to follow up and fire into the corner. Two became three on 39 minutes with Finlay setting off on a run from some forty yards out, ably holding off a defender and providing a low finish.

The little striker wasn't done yet and his fourth of the game came in on 45 minutes with another unsuccessful McKee effort blocked and Finlay reacted quickest again to score from close range. Number five came in the first minute of stoppage time with Ryan Berry releasing Finlay at the half-way line and the forward ran half the field before confidently rounding the goalkeeper to finish off.

The young striker had a couple of early chances as the second half began but was off target both times with headers. The 1st Bangor keeper then denied a goal for Aaron McKee when he blocked a shot with his feet.

With Finlay withdrawn early to take the applause of the supporters, the responsibility for getting Ards' sixth goal fell to Sammy Devine. He showed sharp movement in the box on 70 minutes to get on the end of a McDowell cross and find the back of the net.

The Amateur League side finally put a mark on the game with five minutes remaining with a long free kick sent down the field causing trouble for Ards and McKibbin was well beaten by a good finish to his far corner.

The scoring wasn't quite done yet with Ards finding time to notch up a second as the game entered injury time. Mark Picking did the ground work on the left, crossing well into the middle, where the tireless McMillen put some gloss to his performance with a well directed header.

7th January 2012

Printable version

Substitutes
4 Gary Spence
(for Nixon)
8 Sammy Devine
(for Berry)
19 Mark Picking
(for Finlay)

Referee
Graham McIlwrath