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Youth
League Cup Final: Ards Colts 1-0 Cliftonville Strollers
30th April 2008
What
a way for Ards Colts to see out their last game of the season with a
dramatic 1-0 victory over high fliers Cliftonville to secure the Youth
League Cup for the first time in the club's history.
Preparations
for the final did not go as smoothly as the Colts would've hoped, after
centre half Andrew Ross failed to recover from ligament damage picked up
in the recent win over Linfield Rangers. Several intensive physiotherapy
sessions from John Weatherup helped the injury but in the end the game
came a few days too early for Ross to even make a place on the bench.
Ards then shifted right back Mark Drysdale into the centre alongside
Patterson and Nathan McVeigh slotted in at full back.
Supporters
in the ground had barely taken their seats when Ards' main player and
captain Ryan Newberry was on the end of an absolutely atrociously high
and late tackle from Cliftonville's Jason Brannan. Amazingly Brannan was
only shown yellow but as for Newberry it was the end of his game, being
replaced by Scott Robbie, and the end of his season. A fractured ankle
was the verdict and the player will now spend the next six weeks on
crutches and in plaster.
Losing
their captain and playmaker so early on rocked the young Colts as
Cliftonville continued to pile on the pressure and it wasn’t long
before the Strollers had a clear chance to make their possessional
advantage count after 10 minutes. A mistimed tackle by Drysdale awarded
Cliftonville a penalty but unfortunately for them Chris Saunders was up
against Ards penalty kick expert in 6ft 9 Jason Mooney. Saunders' well
hit effort to Mooney's left was superbly pushed away for a corner and
Saunders became Mooney's 7th victim of the season.
 |
Jamie
Patterson holds aloft
the League Cup trophy |
This
didn't deter Cliftonville and the Ards midfield was struggling to
protect the back four without the presence of Newberry. Mooney then
produced a fine save from Strollers' captain Kevin Trainer as well as
further efforts for the unlucky Saunders and Martin Jones up front. The
Colts were being restricted to long balls and clearances and just
couldn't get their foot on the ball against a fired up Cliftonville
side. Gorman and Tumelty looked increasingly isolated up front for the
Colts feeding on scraps from Brannan and Fenton at the back.
The
North Belfast side were dishing out several over enthusiastic tackles
and it took the referee 30 minutes before finally getting to grips with
the game. Yellow cards were produced to Cliftonville's Trainer and Conal
Burns just before half time and this slightly took the edge off their
game allowing Ards more space on the ball.
Ards
were relieved to hear the half time whistle and it was just what the County
Down side needed. After re-grouping during the interval it was the red
and blue of Ards who started to control the game in the second period.
Robbie got to grips with Trainer in midfield giving freedom to Sharratt,
McConkey and McFall, allowing Ards to get the ball down and play some
good stuff. Tumelty's link up play and Gorman's speed started to trouble
the Cliftonville back line while Sharratt started getting freedom to
roam causing all sorts of problems.
Paul
Fisher in the Strollers net then became the busier keeper making several
saves from Gorman and Sharratt as Ards were now beginning to come to
life. The wee reds continued to look for the ball over the top to the
speedy Jones and Saunders however found a much improved Patterson and
Drysdale from the first half who didn't let one ball get in behind them
the whole second period. Kerri Grant had also now killed the threat from
the impressive Burns on the Cliftonville right.
The game
swung the full 360 in the 70th minute when Saunders went shoulder to
shoulder with Patterson in a race for the ball. Patterson's natural
strength won the contest with Saunders reacting by needlessly kicking
out at the Ards stand in captain right in front of the referee. The act
was mindless and the punishment was straight forward as Saunders got a
straight red for the second time this season against Ards.
Credit
to the Strollers though who didn't let the man advantage distract them.
It seemed to rally the Reds team together as they began to press again
but only to walk into a solid Colts rearguard. Mooney from being the
busiest man on the pitch in the first half didn't have anything of note
of do in the second. Ards began to sit that bit deeper for the next 10
minutes knowing that Cliftonville would be anxious after blowing top
spot in the table at the weekend and losing in this competition late in
last season's final. The Strollers now feeling comfortable and in
control again brought off right back Chris Beattie on 80 minutes and
went to a very adventurous 3-4-2 formation.
This was
exactly what the Colts were looking for as they too now pushed Sharratt
further forward knowing it would be three versus three at the back and a
man still over in defence. The reds pushed hard the last 10 minutes but
apart from a high effort from Trainer never looked like scoring.
With the
90 minutes coming to an end and extra time approaching the fourth
official stepped out to reveal one minute of added time to be played.
Keeper Jason Mooney launched one last Ards attack with a high kick up
the pitch. With a gap in the Cliftonville defence no defender could get
across quick enough allowing it to bounce kindly into the path of Ards
striker Thomas Gorman. With Gorman's speed he burst away from the
Strollers defence, controlling the ball on the chest before hitting a
low shot from the right of the box, which squeezed through keeper Paul
Fisher's legs into the empty net. Wild celebrations followed with barely
time for Cliftonville to re-centre and kick off again before the referee
blew the full time whistle to award Ards their first trophy in seven
years. A well deserved achievement and a thoroughly successful season
for the Ards Colts side.
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| The
victorious Ards Colts side with the Youth League Cup |
Manager
Lee Forsythe said after the game, "This is a great reward to the
players after a lot of hard work during the season and a superb ending
in what was an extremely exciting game. After losing Newberry so early
on it was important we hung in there and we fought to get in level at
half time. Cliftonville showed why they have been around the top of the
table all season but it takes a strong team to come back from the
battering we took in the first half and turn it around.
"I
felt we done that and more and the fact Jason Mooney was much of a
spectator in the second half proved that. A lot of people always have
something to say about Ards and I'm glad this team showed the future at
the football club is very bright indeed. Most of the team have reached
the age were they are not eligible for Under 18s football next season
however I wouldn't bet on this being the last time some of these players
turn out in Ards colours. They have been an absolute pleasure to manage
but there are new exciting youngsters coming through now like Tumelty,
McFall, O'Neill and Blair.
"I
would like to thank the Ards fans that came out to watch us tonight, as
I know it was a great boost to myself and the players to have them
behind us. This trophy has been the reward of four years hard work for
us and I'd also like to thank the board that have always supported and
encouraged me. The players however are fantastic in my eyes from 1 to 17
and they need a special mention, as they have stayed so loyal to the
football club and me. Without them being such a united squad none of
this would be possible."
Ards
Colts 1. Jason Mooney, 2. Mark Drysdale, 3. Kerri Grant, 4.
Nathan McVeigh, 5. Jamie Patterson, 6. Craig McConkey, 7. Tony Tumelty,
8. Ryan Newberry (c), 9. Gary Sharratt, 10. Thomas Gorman, 11. Matt
McFall Substitutes 12. Scott Robbie (for Newberry 3), 14. Chris
Cowden, 15. Craig O'Neill, 16. Lee Adams, 17. Ross Corry
Cliftonville
Strollers 1. Paul Fisher, 2. Chris Beattie, 3. Owen Costello,
4. Graham Fenton, 5. Jason Bannon, 6. Martin Jones, 7. Kevin Trainer
(c), 8. Conal Burns, 9. Chris Donnelly, 10. Chris Saunders, 11. Noel
Brown Substitutes 12. Stefan Brown, 14. Ryan Kelly, 15. Joe
Gormley, 16. Pearse Devine, 17. Kevin McCleary
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