Carnegie First Division: Dundela 2-2 Ards
10th November 2007

Spectators couldn't have failed to be entertained at Wilgar on Saturday with this game having goals and a penalty, a second half comeback and a late sending off.

Two goals without reply by the 57th minute had Ards looking home and dry and possibly into joint second position in the table, but then a quick-fire Dundela comeback had the game level and Ards chasing their points.

Dundela had the game's opening glance at goal on 12 minutes when an attempted clearance by Ards' Johnny Roy was deflected back over his head and into the path of Newtownards man Willie McIlroy, who then put a low left-foot shot wide of the upright. A better chance was to follow for Ards four minutes later when an Aaron McKee corner found the head of James Wilson, but from a good position, the centre-half directed wide.

Shots on goal were few and far between for the first twenty minutes, but Ards were making the better plays and it was no great shock when they took the lead on 29 minutes. Another McKee corner, this one from the right, reached Gary Spence in the middle and his powerful header hit the bottom corner of the net, with Taylor getting a hand to it.

Dundela's reply was from David Murphy, who had a 38th minute shot on goal, but his well hit half-volley was deflected over the Ards crossbar. A minute or so later and a McKee free kick from the centre circle was met by Wilson, who provided an inviting header across the penalty box that no Ards player was present to meet.

Andy McDonald was called into action for the first time in the 50th minute, when Dundela had a break-away. Ards' Darren Stirling lost possession in midfield and the ball was quickly moved forward to McIlroy, who sent Matt Burrows clear and he forced McDonald to save at his near post. A header from Gourley hit the Ards side netting six minutes later and favour then flipped back to Ards.

Darren Stirling - suspended for the Bangor game

Winger Ryan Hyland was fouled by Walker just outside the Duns' area and the neatly worked free kick that followed saw Ards go two nil ahead. McKee was the dead-ball deliverer again, this time an accurate, low pass through the penalty box that was cleverly left by Wilson for Stirling to tap in at the back post - 57 minutes gone.

Chance and drama galore filled the remainder of the game as Dundela chased the deficit. A 58th minute corner found a free head in the centre and the flick-on was met by Burrows, who hooked the ball over the bar. Ten minutes later and a communication break-down in the Ards box saw Wilson stand down and allow the tireless Burrows to nip in and head just over the top.

McDonald then saved a low drive from Murphy before Dundela pulled a goal back with 15 minutes left. No more than a half-chance it could be said but one taken well by Burrows, who got a yard on Wilson out on the left side of the 18-yard box and struck home at the near post. Disaster befell Ards just one minute later when Burrows was tripped in the area and, following bookings for McDonald and Wilson, the resulting penalty kick from Stephen Gourley brought Dundela back from the dead.

Though likely downhearted, Ards looked to answered that comeback by the 81st minute when a knock-on from substitute Craig McMillen was rolled in at the back post by Stirling. Ref Davy Redfern called that one offside and in the moment afterwards sent Stirling off the field, presumably for a word out of turn.

Nine minutes then remained and a chance for Ards to show what they were made of. They would have at least three more chances to win the game, should luck be with them. An 85th minute drive from McMillen began things, though the low shot skimmed the far upright. A minute after that and Ards had the goal at their mercy, when Justin McBride's footwork took the goalkeeper out of the equation and sent the ball back to the penalty mark. McKee took delivery there but spent too long over his shot and was blocked, only for Johnny Shaw to latch onto the loose ball and fail to shoot past the grounded defenders on two occasions.

A closer effort was to follow in the final minute when Hyland crossed for McMillen but the young winger was out of luck as his header to the far side of goal hit the post and spun out of goal rather than in to it. Drama to the very end.

Team	Substitutes
1 Andy McDonald (GK) 76	7 Craig McMillen (for Roy 67)
2 Darren Nixon	16 Stephen Johnston
3 Kris Pike	18 David Cully
4 Gary Spence	19 Johnny Cleary
5 James Wilson 76	20 Justin McBride (for Wright 67)
6 Johnny Shaw
9 Darren Stirling 81	Referee Davy Redfern
10 Aaron McKee (capt)
12 Johnny Roy	Scorers Gary Spence 29, Darren Stirling 57
14 David Wright
17 Ryan Hyland

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