Carnegie First Division: Ards 1-2 Dundela
15th March 2008

Dundela edged out Ards in the second half of this game and gained the psychological advantage ahead of next Wednesday's showdown in the semi-final of the WKD Intermediate Cup.

But today's prize was three league points that deservedly lifted Dundela into third place in the table at the expense of Ards, who were easily outplayed after the re-start. Tommy Kincaid surprisingly re-shuffled his pack to give a start to new signing Chris Deegan. He turned out at centre-back, with Darren Nixon moving to the right side of defence in place of David Cully. Ricky Billing began his first game since November up front, while Aaron McKee returned only for a spot on the bench.

The earliest chance went to Dundela as their top marksman Matt Burrows got in ahead of an Ards defender on three minutes to reach a cross ball and toe-poke a shot at Andy McDonald. Ards made shouts for a penalty on 12 minutes when Jamsie Wilson was taken down from behind as a Craig McMillen corner came in, but ref David Best seemed unnerved. As play continued another cross found the head of Billing, whose looping header just caught the netting on its way over.

A run through the middle of the park from Roy on 24 minutes saw him win a free kick 25 yards from the Duns' goal. The same player took the kick and the ball again found the head of Billing, who this time set up Gary Clifford, whose own header brought a flying save out of James Taylor.

Ards had a scare on 25 minutes as an awkward corner ball in from Dundela caused problems in the defence and saw Darren Nixon head against his own post. The visitors then stepped up their game as the match moved into the final quarter of an hour. A sharp break down the left side by Burrows saw him feed the ball inside to Willie McIlroy, who was well-placed to score, but hooked his shot wide of the target.

On 33 minutes Burrows was involved again as he somehow out-muscled Deegan for the ball on the right bye-line and accurately squared a cross for Scott Hill. His shot from six yards was saved by McDonald with his feet and Ards breathed again. A better chance followed within sixty seconds as again Burrows supplied the assist, this time for Tommy Parker, who drew a diving save from McDonald with his low, well-hit drive.

Three minutes into the new half Ards broke down the left side through McMillen. His short pass inside for Stirling was knocked on to Ricky Billing and as he prepared to fire was needlessly bundled over in the box by Hill. The defender was lucky to escape with only a yellow card and Ards went in front as Stirling blasted in Ards' first penalty kick of the season. Ards then made their best move of the game with an hour played. Craig McMillen brought the ball out of the Ards box and set away Johnny Roy. His excellent run through the middle released Ricky Billing, who had his thundering shot tipped over the top by Taylor.

Dundela fought their way back into the game with an equaliser on 65 minutes. Sub David Officer did the ground work on the left flank, before delivering a pinpoint cross for Burrows, who headed in unmarked from only 6 yards - his fiftieth strike of the season. Worse was to follow for Ards as they saw the game turned around two minutes later. Ards had three or four chances to stop the run of Tommy Parker through their lines, but no-one made a worthwhile challenge and the defender was able slam home a low shot that McDonald couldn't hold.

Ards sent on Aaron McKee and Mark Parker to try and salvage the game and for a time the Ards players played musical positions as Clifford moved to right-back, Roy and McMillen switched wings, before Nixon, Pike and Spence made up a back three. None of it made any difference, as the team lacked ideas and failed to put together another decent move for the rest of the game.

Dundela on the other hand were always dangerous and never looked like resting on their lead. Ards keeper McDonald had to save again from Burrows in the 79th minute and it was the final minute before Ards had another shot on goal. Aaron McKee's free kick supplied the ball into the box, to be met by a header from Nixon that the keeper gathered without too much trouble. Wednesday's semi-final will give Ards a chance to try again, but they will need to step up their game from this performance.

Match Sponsors North Down Group (Fruit & Veg Wholesalers)

Team	Substitutes
1 Andy McDonald (capt.) (GK)	6 Gareth Walsh (for Wilson 80)
2 Darren Nixon	10 Aaron McKee (for Deegan 72)
3 Kris Pike	14 Danny Mulholland
4 Gary Spence	18 David Cully
5 James Wilson	22 Mark Parker (for Billing 66)
7 Craig McMillen
9 Darren Stirling	Referee David Best
11 Ricky Billing
12 Johnny Roy	Scorer Darren Stirling 48 pen
15 Gary Clifford
21 Chris Deegan

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