Belfast Telegraph Championship 1
Ards 2-0 Institute

Second half goals from Darren Nixon and Nathan McConnell gave Ards a deserved win over Institute at Dixon Park.

Nixon had returned to the side following a hamstring injury, slotting in at an unfamiliar left-back role, in place of the suspended Ciaran Boyd. Ryan Berry was back in the starting line-up too, taking the place of Aaron McKee in the centre of the park.

Institute began the afternoon five places above hosts Ards but struggled to really penetrate the home defence and would have been very glad to hear the half-time whistle follow a sustained Ards onslaught towards the end of the half. The earliest move of the game was created by Ards on nine minutes when Gareth Corey showed a great burst of pace to race past an opponent on the left side. Nathan McConnell seemed well placed to meet the ball but Corey couldn't beat the first man with his cross ball.

The game progressed with both teams putting together good passing moves but ultimately struggling to put their opposing goalkeepers to the test. The game eventually burst into life with ten minutes of the half remaining with the start of that Ards onslaught. It began on 35 minutes with Ross Arthurs receiving a throw-in from the right and sending the ball across the Institute box that keeper Corey Wilson plucked away from Ards' Gareth Corey. The corner kick that followed had Berry putting the ball onto the head of James Cully but he directed his effort over the crossbar.

The action continued at the visitors end as a poor clearance from the Institute goal kick presented the ball to Berry on the edge of the eighteen. He showed a good touch to bring the ball under control and looked sure to find the net, being one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but instead he calmly passed the ball the wrong side of an upright.

Onto 38 minutes and Ards attacked again with David Cully taking a quick throw-in that found Arthurs and his lay-off saw Berry provide a low ball across the Institute goal that McConnell tried to turn in with an awkward looking back heel, which he ultimately fluffed. Still there was no respite for the visitors with McConnell then supplying Ryan Berry in the box and he drove a shot against keeper Corey before Mark Picking hit a follow-up shot just wide of goal.

If Institute felt themselves fortunate to reach the break on level terms, then their luck quickly ran out as the second period began. It was the 50th minute when Ards went in front as Berry delivered a free kick in to the area from the left flank and captain Darren Nixon put his head to the ball to power in only his third ever goal for the club.

Minutes later and Ards went close to doubling their lead. A strong run through the Institute lines by James Cully eventually won a corner for Ards that laid on a chance for Corey. He was out of luck with his effort but Cully was well placed to follow up with goalkeeper Wilson clawing the ball back from the goal line. It wasn't long before the second goal though with Berry's smart through ball in the 66th minute putting McConnell one-on-one with Wilson and he confidently rounded the keeper and slotted home his eleventh of the season.

On 71 minutes Ards keeper Graeme McKibbin was called on to deal with an Institute threat with Dean Jarvis drilling in from the edge of the box and McKibbin turning the shot away for a corner. Institute attacked again on 86 minutes with Stephen Parkhouse doing well to supply a cross ball into the Ards box that none of his team-mates could connect with.

As the match ticked over into the first of seven minutes injury time Institute had arguably their best chance of the game. A corner in from the left found Paddy McLaughlin in the centre and he powered a header off the face of the bar. With the danger not yet cleared McLaughlin followed up and this time it was David Cully clearing off the line before the referee had to intercede to break up a scuffle that developed in the Ards area.

Sponsor's Man of the Match Gary Spence

Ards Team 1 Graeme McKibbin (GK), 12 David Cully 14 James Cully, 4 Gary Spence, 5 Darren Nixon (capt.), 19 Mark Picking, 6 Ryan Berry, 17 Jimmy McIlhagga, 15 Gareth Corey, 9 Nathan McConnell, 10 Ross Arthurs

Substitutes 2 Rab Young (for Berry 76), 8 Sammy Devine (for Corey 66), 21 Adam Arthurs (for McConnell 86)

Referee Cecil Floyd

19th November 2011

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