Youth League Cup R3: Dungannon Swts Yth 2-4 Ards Colts
23rd February 2008

A place in the semi-final of the Youth League Cup awaits Ards Colts following their 4-2 victory over Dungannon Swifts this weekend.

A pair of goals from Gary Sharratt helped Lee Forsythe's team to victory over Dungannon, who are much fancied for the Youth League title. Just five minutes into the game and Ards were appealing for a penalty when Tony Tumelty was brought down in the area. The referee however only awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, which Sharratt converted to ensure justice was done.

Gary Sharratt

Sharratt then turned provider for Matt McFall, who scored with a tap-in, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside. Ards finally doubled the lead before half time with a looping finish from Mark Drysdale.

Ards third was scored following the re-start by Jamie Patterson, who converted a Sharratt corner, before Ards were denied what looked like another penalty when the impressive Tumelty was taken down again in the box.

Ards player Matt McFall was then harshly sent off following a tangle with an opponent leaving Ards down to ten men. However that did not deter Sharratt, who scored his second of the game to make it 4-0 with 20 minutes to play. Oddly, Dungannon stepped up their game after that and struck two goals to keep Ards on their toes right until the final whistle.

Ards advance to the semi-finals were they will be paired with either Ballymena, Cliftonville or Linfield, making it an all-Section B last four. 

ardsfc.co.uk