ardsfc.co.uk - Ards Football Club - Coagh United 2-4 Ards

Dee Irvine fired in two first half goals against Coagh United to kick-start a fine Ards performance that now has Tommy Kincaid's side with one foot in the door of second round meeting with either Bangor or Ballinmallard.

Irvine's two strikes were among a host of Ards chances in the first half that, if all had been converted, would have given the side a commanding lead at the break. There was just one change in the line-up as Darren Stirling displaced Thomas Gorman from the starting eleven, although Wilson and Wright did return from holiday to claim spots on the bench.

The earliest chance of match came just a few minutes in when a Kris Pike corner found the head of Irvine and he put a shot just wide of goal. Irvine would have better luck on 14 minutes when he showed good determination to put Ards ahead. A clear foul on Darren Stirling wasn't called by the referee and that use of advantage saw the ball through to Irvine and he beat a defender well to knock a low shot across the goalkeeper and just inside the far post.

The former Bangor man doubled his and Ards' tally on 22 minutes when a quick free kick out wide to Craig McMillen saw the winger's shot half cleared and Irvine was on hand to lash the rebound past the goalkeeper from 15 yards. Coagh reduced the deficit just three minutes later when ref Lee Tavinder spotted a pull on a opponent's shirt from David Cully, gifting the home side a penalty and earning the Ards man a yellow card. Stuart Dallas made no mistake from the spot, hitting home to Andy McDonald's left.

On 33 minutes a Paul McKnight corner put the ball onto the head of McMillen, who's knock-on for Paul Dickson saw the Ards defender power in a header that had to be cleared off the Coagh goal-line. At the other end Dallas provided a rare moment of penetration for his Coagh side when he set himself up for a 40th minute half-volley that McDonald blocked with relative ease.

The half ended with further chances for Ards as first, a neat little pass from McMillen played in Irvine, who saw his low shot blocked on the line, and then Dickson's hit-off-the-ground shot was pushed away for a corner by the Coagh keeper.

Ards began the second period where they had left off the first - in control and on the attack. The 50th minute produced a wonderful piece of football from McKnight, who was put clear of the Coagh midfield and he cut a fine path around defender and goalkeeper only to see his shot stopped on the goal-line: he had done everything but score.

Just short of the hour Ards had their third strike as Coagh were guilty of dallying on the ball. A short through pass from midfield put Stirling on the chase and as a defender hesitated, Stirling executed an unorthodox straddle to get ahead of his opponent and tuck the ball away to the keeper's right.

Game over perhaps, but the chances continued to flow for Ards and a minute later Dee Irvine put Fitzgerald away and he cut in from the right corner of the box to smash a shot off the far upright and then could only watch on as the ball rolled neatly along the line and into the arms of a relieved goalkeeper. Ards did put the ball in the net again though on 61 minutes and Fitzgerald finally had his goal as he hit home a Mark Picking cross at the left hand side of goal.

The scoring wasn't yet finished though as Coagh grabbed another goal to keep the second half alive. The assist was supplied in the form a left-wing cross on 70 minutes and Randal Reid put a well-directed downward header in off McDonald's right-hand post.

Although the game was beginning to lose some spark, openings continued to come for both sides right until the end. On 86 minutes Picking put a right-foot effort over the bar and then as injury time began Reid fired over at the other end, before Ards sub Thomas Gorman skied a pass from Picking.

1 Andy McDonald (c)

8 Paul Dickson		14 David Cully		3 Kris Pike

17 Mark Picking	6 Dee Irvine		5 Jimmy McIlhagga		7 Craig McMillen

9 Darren Stirling	20 Paul McKnight				10 Darren Fitzgerald
Dee Irvine 14, 22, Darren Stirling 59, Darren Fitzgerald 61


	11 Aaron McKee (for McIlhagga 62), 13 Lee Rutherford (GK), 16 James Wright, 18 Thomas Gorman (for McKnight 67), 19 James Wilson (for Stirling 77)

	Lee Tavinder