Two goals in the opening nine minutes from Darren Fitzgerald, making his first appearance of the season, ended any hopes Bangor Amateurs might have had of making a game of this tie.

Fitzgerald's double complimented by a Thomas Gorman strike on 25 minutes had Ards three up at the break, and although the home side eased off significantly in the second half, there was never any doubt who would win this David and Goliath battle of north Down clubs.

Fitzgerald and Gorman's inclusion in the team was at the expense of Darren Stirling and Stephen Doyle, both injured, while Jimmy McIlhagga also returned from suspension to take the place of James Wright, who is on holiday. Finally on-loan player Mark Picking began his first game on the right wing.

It took only five minutes for the first goal to come when a left-sided corner from McMillen was knocked on by Gorman, and Fitzgerald showed good control with his chest to bring the ball down and thump it high into the roof of the net. Fitzgerald hit number two four minute later when good work by Dee Irvine saw the ball forward to Gorman and his lay-off to the edge of the area was met firmly by Fitzgerald, who hammered home to the left of the goalkeeper.

Ards continued to press, with Picking a constant danger on the right and only some good goalkeeping ensuring the score remained at 2-0. The Amateurs' keeper made a stop from Dickson on 12 minutes and then denied Gorman on the goal-line some minutes later. A better save still followed that when Pike's corner found its way to Craig McMillen and his strong shot was excellently flicked over the bar.

The game's third strike on 25 minutes saw McMillan and McIlhagga involved on the left side, linking up well before feeding the ball to Gorman and he tucked his shot away to the goalkeeper's near post. Ards keeper Andy McDonald was wakened into action on the half hour when a poor clearance set up a chance for a Bangor player, who volleyed the ball back at goal from 40 yards, leaving McDonald scrambling to hook the ball off the line - which he just about managed.

A good Ards move on 33 minutes saw Irvine make good ground through the Amateurs' midfield to find Fitzgerald, who in turn supplied McMillen and he was thwarted by a good save from the keeper with his legs. The chances continued to come for Ards as the game approached half-time with Mark Picking firing over the bar and Dee Irvine having a header saved. The half ended on a sour note for the visitors however with their outstanding keeper having to retire from the match, with a suspected hamstring pull.

Just a minute into the second half, Bangor reduced the deficit when the Ards defence failed to react after a shot had cannoned off the right post and the Amateurs No.9 followed up with his side's first goal. The test now would be how Ards might react to that early set back and could they maintain the tempo of the opening half. Chances continued to come for the home side, none better than a free kick slipped through to Paul McKnight on 55 minutes, that the veteran forward struck weakly at the stand-in goalkeeper.

Ards winger Craig McMillen, who was having a uncharacteristically quiet afternoon, was then involved in a couple of chances. First he went in strongly to a meet a McKnight free kick from the left, and was well out-muscled by the keeper and then, on 70 minutes, struck well hit effort over the bar. McMillen was to get his name on the score-sheet four minutes later though when a pass from McIlhagga found the winger's feet and he lashed in Ards' fourth goal from just inside the eighteen.

The 77th minute saw a Bangor substitute put a dead centre free kick over the bar, in a rare moment of threat to the Ards goal but with legs tiring, there was little else to worry the Ards defence. The game's final strike arrived three minutes into added time when a foul on McIlhagga saw Ards awarded a free kick and the quick-thinking McKnight put the ball over the back-line onto the foot of Fitzgerald and his cool finish wrapped up the win and his third Ards hat-trick to boot.

- MATCH SPONSOR

The Fifteen Club

- SPONSOR'S MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Dickson

	11 Aaron McKee (for Irvine h/t), 13 Lee Rutherford (GK), 15 Gary Wray (for Cully 74), 17 Lee Mudd
	Billy Stewart

22nd August 2009

ardsfc.co.uk