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.

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
9 Darren Stirling	Referee Alan Black
11 Mark Parker
12 Johnny Roy	Scorer Gary Clifford 27
15 Gary Clifford 79
18 David Cully

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