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Carnegie
First Division: Lurgan Celtic 2-1 Ards
8th March 2008
Lurgan Celtic
ensured the battle for places at the bottom of the First Division table
would continue today by clinching their first win over Ards in four
attempts this season.
Both teams came into the
game on the back of important victories the week before but it was the
home side who looked hungrier for the win and in getting it, hauled
themselves back to within two points of Ards.
Ards were forced into a
single change as Aaron McKee declared himself unfit because of a toe
injury, meaning Gary Cllifford came into the starting eleven. There were
two other notable additions to the squad also, with Ricky Billing and
Gareth Walsh being named as substitutes for the first time in months.
Ards passed on a couple of
great early chances, all of which were created by Johnny Roy. His
in-swinging free kick delivered from the right side after just a minute
hung invitingly in the air yards from the Lurgan goal with three Ards
players lined up to take advantage but, alas, none of them could. A
left-wing corner from Roy less than sixty seconds later caused Celtic
problems too as the wind carried the ball onto the crossbar and back out
to the feet of Darren Stirling, who was bravely denied by Ciaran Fox.
On nine minutes an
excellent run from Roy to cut in and cross from the right put the ball
onto the foot of Mark Parker, who had acres of space to turn and strike,
only to hit the prized chance wide of goal. There was a set-back for
Ards on 24 minutes when top scorer Stirling limped out of the game to be
replaced by Walsh, who slotted straight in up front. When Ards took the
lead on 27 minutes, it was as a result of a defensive error. A mis-hit
clearance by Fox didn't get the height or distance required and an alert
Gary Clifford accurately sent the ball straight into the centre of
the goal from what must have been 35 yards.
Andy McDonald in the Ards
goal was first properly tested on 36 minutes when a 25 yard shot from
defender Murphy forced him into a save at a comfortable height. Two
minutes after that and a mistake by Cully let in Lawless on the edge of
the Ards area. This time McDonald was called fully into action, diving
to his left hand post to turn away the winger's well-hit shot.
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Ricky
Billing |
Ards' lead didn't last
long into the second half; in fact many supporters hadn't yet re-taken
their places by the time full-back Ciaran McEvoy had got in front
of David Cully to head in a right-wing cross just past McDonald's reach.
That goal was on 48 minutes and by the time the half was ten minutes
old, Ards should have restored their lead.
The impressive Craig
McMillen showed his strength to keep hold of the ball on the left
bye-line, before releasing Justin McBride. His cross found the feet of
substitute Gareth Walsh, who was well placed to score, unmarked at the
back post, but whether he meant it or not, he played a short ball back
to Parker, who had an entire goal to aim at only to strike the ball
against the keeper's legs from 10 yards.
The miss proved costly as
Celtic took the lead themselves on 58 minutes. A corner from the left
found the head of scorer McEvoy, in the clear on the edge of the Ards
box, and his ball back into the danger area was hooked high into
the net by Donal McCourt, who swiveled on the spot a mere two yards from
goal.
Craig McMillen was denied
well by Fox on 59 minutes when the goalkeeper raced out to claim the
ball at the young winger's feet. Ards then sent on Ricky Billing for his
first appearance since November and the big forward wasn't long in
getting involved as he took advantage of a weak clearance on 74 minutes
to drive a low shot wide of the target.
Billing came closest to
rescuing the game for Ards on 86 minutes when a clearance from McDonald
saw the ball played out to McBride and then Walsh. His cross from the
right side was met by a strong Billing header in the centre with only
the crossbar keeping the ball out and Ards' hopes were dashed.
| Team |
Substitutes |
| 1 Andy McDonald (capt.)
(GK) |
6 Gareth Walsh (for
Stirling 24) |
| 2 Darren Nixon |
14 Danny Mulholland |
3 Kris Pike  45 |
17 Ryan Hyland |
| 4 Gary Spence |
20 Justin McBride (for
Wilson h/t) |
| 5 James Wilson |
21 Ricky Billing (for
Parker 70) |
| 7 Craig McMillen |
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| 9 Darren Stirling |
Referee
Alan Black |
| 11 Mark Parker |
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| 12 Johnny Roy |
Scorer
Gary Clifford 27 |
| 15 Gary Clifford 79 |
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| 18 David Cully |
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