Features European Facts & Records Results

Ards vs Brantwood by Billy Graham

Ards first met Brantwood in competitive games during the second world war when both clubs were in the Intermediate League. Between 1940 and 1947 they met ten times with Ards winning five, drawing four and losing one.

That one loss was their last last meeting as Intermediate teams on 2nd June 1947 at Brantwood; an Intermediate League game that Brantwood won 7-3 with goals from Smyth (2), Malone, Fulton, Green, Hood and Mahood. Joe McKeown (2) and Harry O'Prey scored for Ards.

Since those days Ards as a senior club have only met B Division Brantwood four times. The first of those meetings was in a 2nd round Irish Cup match at Celtic Park on 16th February 1952 that Ards won 1-0 with a Davy Lawther goal. Ards would go on to win the cup that season, beating Glentoran in the final.

Nine years later they met in the 1st round of the County Antrim Shield at Castlereagh Park on 25th March 1961 when Ards won 3-2 thanks to goals from Mick Lynch, Vince Maguire and John Bell. Woods and Jim Doherty replied for the visitors and left-winger Doherty was signed for Ards very quickly after this match.

It was another 34 years before they met again, on 18th February 1995, at Castlereagh Park in a 6th round Irish Cup game. Ards won the game 4-1 with goals from Paul Mooney, Paul Cullen, Gary Heaney and David Stranney; Brantwood's James McDonald replied.

The last competitive game between the sides was at Castlreagh Park on 9th August 1997 in the first round of the League Cup when Ards beat the visitors 7-2. Ards goals came Peter Hinds (2), Ray Morrison (2), Winkie Murphy, Bobby Sims and Lee Feeney. Hamilton and Clarke were scorers for Brantwood.

2008 will be only the third occasion Ards have met Brantwood in the Irish Cup. We went on to win in in 1952 and lost in the semi-final replay to Linfield in 1995.

Billy Graham

Billy Graham is Ards' resident historian and statistician. If you have a query relating to a time in Ards' past or to a former player, then get in touch via this e-mail and we'll pass the questions on to Billy.

first published 11th January 2008

Printable version

 
Worthingtons Solicitors Carnegie First Division Join the Ards Forum! Ards Youth 50 Years
 

 
ardsfc.co.uk is the Official Website of Ards Football Club and was established on 21st June 2000. The
content and views expressed on this website are those of individuals and are not necessarily the views of
Ards Football Club Limited. To contact the editor on any matter relating to the website, e-mail
web at ardsfc.co.uk To contact the football club, please write. *Please credit images "ardsfc.co.uk"
Best viewed with internet explorer 6 at 1024x768 dpi. Audio/video files require realPlayer, download it
here