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Carnegie
First Division: Coagh United 1-0 Ards
26th April 2008
 A much changed Ards
side succumbed to an early James Wardell goal as Coagh United claimed
the three points at Hagan Park today.
Tommy Kincaid dropped
eight regulars from his side, opting to try several of Ards' under 18
players including goalkeeper Jason Mooney, Gary Sharratt, Ryan Newberry
and debutante left back Kerri Grant.
Coagh had the best of the
early runnings and made a couple of promising openings ahead of
their goal on 12 minutes. With 5 minutes played Wardell got the better
of Grant on the right side, made it to byline and cut back an inviting
cross that none of his team-mates could make contact with. A few moments
later and Calderwood broke through the middle to get off a shot that
Mooney saved, as he also did with the follow-up from the same player.
Then came that Coagh goal.
James Wardell took possession of the ball on the left side, turned
Johnston and played a shot inside Mooney's near post that the keeper had
left poorly guarded. Ards might have pulled level just minutes after had
the finishing of Danny Mulholland been sharper. He battled well to
carry the ball inside the Coagh area and strike a left foot shot across
the goalkeeper, but wide of the target.
On 26 minutes Mooney was
called into action when McCordick turned on the edge of the Ards box to
fire in a shot that the keeper dived to his right to push away. Ards then
made a series of very good chances beginning with a one-two move
involving Mark Parker and Justin McBride that sent McBride into the
Coagh box where he shot across the goal and wide. A 32nd minute corner
from McKee was then knocked back to the edge of the area for Grant to
send in a low pass that Mulholland just failed to get a touch to.
An excellent opening was
then made on 37 minutes when a crossfield ball from the impressive
Newberry picked out Gary Sharratt. He did well to beat his marker, cut
inside and smack a right footed shot that cannoned off the near post. Ards began the
second half in a similar fashion, though this time any shots on the
Coagh goal weren't really troubling their goalkeeper. A Ryan Newberry
free kick flew well over on 55 minutes and then shots from McBride and
Sharratt also missed the target.
 |
Jason
Mooney -
saved penalty |
At the other end a shot
from Coagh's top scorer Scott McCordick was well saved by Mooney, before
Newberry twice tried to drive the ball into the home goal. Ards were by
now enjoying the bulk of the possession and were easily playing the best
football but didn't look likely to score. Defender David Cully made a
hopeful penalty claim on 82 minutes when he was beaten to the ball after
being played in by the combination of substitutes Mark Drysdale and
Jonny Roy.
After a bit of a lull in
the game midway through the second half it was in fact the last minutes
that gave hope of another goal. The action all centered around the Ards
goal as first substitute Aaron Willis missed a glorious chance on 85,
side-footing wide when he had been played into an unmarked position on
the penalty spot.
Finally Coagh were awarded
a penalty kick with a minute to play when Mooney charged out to bring
down McGaw with his legs. Aaron Thornton was given the chance to
add to the Coagh lead but was unable to do so as Mooney guessed
right to dive to his left and push away the spot kick.
| Team |
Substitutes |
| 1 Jason Mooney (GK) |
2 Darren Nixon |
| 8 Ryan Newberry |
4 Mark Drysdale (for
Johnston 56) |
| 10 Aaron McKee |
6 Stuart Long (for
McKee h/t) |
| 11 Gary Sharratt |
12 Jonny Roy (for
Parker 65) |
| 14 Danny Mulholland |
|
| 15 Gary Clifford |
Referee
P Walker
|
16 Stephen Johnston 
53 |
|
| 17 Kerri Grant |
|
| 18 David Cully |
|
| 20 Justin McBride (capt) |
|
| 22 Mark Parker |
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