ardsfc.co.uk - Ards Football Club - Ards 4-0 Glebe Rangers

Three strikes in the opening 12 minutes had this game over before it had really begun and the full points claimed by Ards lifted the side to third in the league table.

Glebe showed why they are struggling at the foot of the Championship as they shipped four goals without reply and finished the game with just ten men, following the dismissal of William Wharry. Tommy Kincaid had reverted to his first choice eleven, and within minutes of the start, there was no question why.

Ards went in front on seven minutes with an individual goal from the on-loan Mark Picking. He turned his man once or twice on the left side to open up a run to goal that encountered no further opposition, and from 15 yards he had to pick his spot on the far side of goal and finish well from a tight angle.

The lead was doubled in the 12th minute when a free kick was sent into the Glebe box by James Wright. Some scrambling for possession eventually ended with Dee Irvine playing a short, sideways pass to James Wilson and he calmly side-footed home. Within the same minute, the Ards lead became three as Darren Fitzgerald scored the pick of the bunch. He ran onto a long forward pass, collecting possession on the right side, and beating the defender with ease before striking a early shot from 20 yards that had keeper Brian Kane beaten as his far post - a real confident finish.

If fans - or the Glebe defence - were now expecting a rout, that turned out not to be the case as the game settled down and Glebe appeared a little more organised at the back. Up front they still posed no trouble however and Andy McDonald had one of his quietest afternoons for some time.

If there were to be further scores, then if would likely come from Ards, and that appeared to be the case on 36 minutes. Ards midfielder Jim McIlhagga showed his worth in getting to the bye-line on the right of goal to pull a pass back for Paul Dickson. His shot looked in to many, but a closer inspection found he had only hit the side netting and so 3-0 it remained at the interval.

Ards continued to be the dominant side in the second half and only some resolute defending from Glebe thwarted further Ards chances. One such example came on 65 minutes when Wright released Darren Stirling through the middle and he showed a turn of pace to glide past his marker before seeing his low shot blocked a covering defender's tackle.

Ards' first change of the match saw Stephen Doyle replace Fitzgerald up front and it was the young substitute's run that had Glebe reduced to ten men on 71 minutes. With Doyle clean through, bearing down on goal, defender Wharry's shirt tugging took the forward down and there was no question he would receive his marching orders from the ref.

Ards looked to have goal number four on 76 minutes when good work from Doyle took him into the Glebe box and he supplied what looked a square pass for Darren Stirling. He duly tapped home only for the referee - not the linesman - to intervene and blow for offside. It was only two minutes later though when Ards did finally make it four. Roles reversed this time as Stirling saw his 20 yard drive well stopped by Kane, but the loose ball ran wide for Doyle and he finished well enough from a tight angle at the back post.

Job done for Ards, who showed their worth around goal, but a sorry day at the office for Glebe, who remain one off the bottom spot.

1 Andy McDonald (c)

8 Paul Dickson	2 Darren Nixon	19 James Wilson	3 Kris Pike

5 Jimmy McIlhagga	16 James Wright	6 Dee Irvine	17 Mark Picking

9 Darren Stirling		10 Darren Fitzgerald
Mark Picking 7, James Wilson 12, Darren Fitzgerald 12, Stephen Doyle 78


	4 Gary Spence (for Wilson 81), 12 Stephen Doyle (for Fitzgerald 57), 14 David Cully (for McIlhagga 81), 15 Gary Wray

	David Dunlop