JJB Sports Irish Cup R5: Ards 1-1 Brantwood
12th January 2008

Ards and Brantwood will have to play it again on Tuesday evening after Saturday's flat Irish Cup tie couldn't separate the sides.

One might feel that it is Ards who will be most glad of another crack at things, as they failed to really start this game and had to rely on a late Ryan Hyland goal to save them the embarrassment of losing to lower league opposition.

This week's two new faces went straight into the Ards side, as Tommy Kincaid fielded a very youthful line-up. Danny Mulholland partnered Gary Sharratt up front, while Gareth Walsh began on the right of midfield. Craig McMillen was deployed in a new left-back role, with Kris Pike making way, while Gary Clifford surprisingly returned from his long-term injury to take a place on the bench.

The game's first opening went to Ards' Gary Sharratt, who showed a good burst of pace to take him to the edge of the Brantwood area from where a shot looked possible. Instead he fed the ball wide and Walsh's well struck cross managed to avoid everyone in the centre. A couple of minutes after that a poor kick-out from Andy McDonald presented McCleery of Brantwood with a free shot at goal, but his well-struck effort whizzed past the right-hand upright.

An Ards move on 26 minutes saw centre-back Gary Spence break down the left side and play in Mulholland. His fine cross found fellow new-boy Gareth Walsh and he smashed his shot against defender David Graden. On 32 minutes Ards were awarded a free kick some 30 yards from goals that Aaron McKee chipped invitingly into the area. Defender Darren Nixon was the only player to meet the ball but his connection after sliding in saw the ball finish up behind the goal.

Debutantes Danny Mullholland and Gareth Walsh; and scorer Ryan Hyland

Ards keeper Andy McDonald kept the home side in the match on 37 minutes when his defence was badly opened up and Gary Irwin was able to strike a low, fast-paced shot that McDonald excellently flicked up over the crossbar. Then, a few minutes before half-time Ards had their best chance of the game when a corner from McKee found the unmarked head of Mulholland but he couldn't find the net from five yards.

Thirteen minutes into the second period and Walsh had another look at goal, but he fired straight at the goalkeeper after being played in by Roy. A yellow card for each side followed separate incidents just after the hour mark and then, with his new system clearly not working, Tommy Kincaid pushed McMillen further up the flank and introduced Pike to left-back.

Then, on 70 minutes, Brantwood took the lead. The visitors cleverly got in behind the Ards defence on the left side and a low cross saw Darren Munster strike a shot that was saved by McDonald. The same player quickly followed up though and this time did find the net for 1-nil.

With that Ards threw on Justin McBride and Ryan Hyland and on 77 minutes had one of their better chances. The tireless Walsh chased down a ball that was running out on the right side of the field and recovered it well to send over a cross for McMillen. Young Craig met the cross unchallenged in the centre but directed the ball poorly and missed the goal.

With Ards looking as devoid of ideas as they had done in the 1st minute an equaliser looked far from certain, but for the two substitutes to combine on 82 minutes. A classy through ball from McBride around the 25 yard mark split the visiting defence and Ryan Hyland raced on to slot the ball under the goalkeeper and maintain his reputation of super substitute.

Far from pretty and barely worth the entrance fee, Ards salvaged their draw and everyone's invited back on Tuesday for round two.

Team	Substitutes
1 Andy McDonald (GK)	3 Kris Pike (for Sharratt 64)
2 Darren Nixon 90	15 Gary Clifford
4 Gary Spence	17 Ryan Hyland (for Cully 76)
6 Gareth Walsh	20 Justin McBride (for Mulholland 76)
7 Craig McMillen 67	23 Mark Parker
8 Ryan Newberry
10 Aaron McKee	Referee Hugh Carville
12 Johnny Roy
14 Danny Mulholland	Scorer Ryan Hyland 82
18 David Cully
21 Gary Sharratt

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