Carnegie First Division: Ards 2-0 Loughgall
1st March 2008

Ards put more pressure on Loughgall's slender lead at the top of the First Division with this fine victory, carved out with two Darren Stirling goals in the second half.

Twice already this season Loughgall had easily swept aside the Ards resistance, but Saturday afternoon's performance was of sterner stuff as Ards contained Loughgall in the first half and then set about over-running them in the second.

The return of top scorer Stirling, the only change in the Ards line-up, proved vital as his two goals, the first as good a piece of football as you'll see, did the damage to Loughgall who now defend a single point lead at the top of the table.

Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes as both sides tried to deal with the blustery conditions as best they could. An early half-chance for Ards saw Aaron McKee slip a quickly taken free kick along the ground into the path of Kris Pike with the Ards left back just short on pace to reach the ball ahead of Loughgall keeper Marc Robinson.

Loughgall then benefitted from some fortune at the other end as a casual back-pass by Nixon let in Adamcyzk but Andy McDonald in goal was alert to the danger and he charged out to win the race for the ball. On 27 minutes ex-Ards midfielder Brian Adair drew the wrath of the Ards following as he went to ground in the penalty box with suspiciously little contact. Referee Keith Halliday was similarly unimpressed.

Darren Stirling

On 35 minutes a good move by the visitors along the Ards right saw Ryan Moffatt work his way inside the area but a well-placed blocking tackle from Ards defender Gary Spence saw the attack brought to an end. Loughgall then had their best chance of the game, with 41 minutes played. A high cross in from the left from Lukasz Adamcyzk found the head of Noel Robinson at the back post and his effort almost trickled past the Ards keeper and into the net, but for full-back Pike to sweep away the danger on the goal-line.

Though the first half was devoid of chances and excitement, the same could not be said about the second as Ards raced out of the blocks and took the game to their visitors. By 49 minutes the home side were ahead with a goal worthy of winning any game. As a Loughgall attack broke down, Ards played the ball out of their own half with Johnny Roy passing in-field to Aaron McKee. He played a splendid outside of the foot pass forward to Darren Stirling, who took his chance and struck a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net from 15 yards.

A further Ards chance followed on 61 minutes when some dogged work by Craig McMillen saw him re-win the ball out in the left corner. His cross back for Roy was well placed but the midfielder just couldn't bring the ball down correctly to line up a shot. Four minutes after that and Ards had no trouble finding the net again. McMillen did the leg-work on the left side and his delivery found Stirling in the centre, who placed a simple header into the back corner of the goal.

Loughgall heads were now down as they realised the game was up and they showed little after the second Ards goal that might suggest a comeback. A rare chance came on 71 minutes when a free kick from 25 yards found the head of Adamcyzk in the box but he angled over.

Craig McMillen was played in by Roy on 75 minutes for a half-chance that he made too comfortable for Robinson in the Loughgall goal and then substitute Uprichard headed wide from an 89th minute corner for the visitors. A terrific second half effort from the Ards players, who fought for every ball and played at a tempo not seen this season.

Match Sponsors Menarys of High Street, Newtownards and Mr Sammy Carleton

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