Ards will go to Wakehurst on Thursday night to play the third game in the Carnegie League Cup without goalkeeper Andy McDonald.

The first choice stopper is away on a pre-arranged holiday and hence will miss the re-arranged game. Ironically Andy had deliberately scheduled the break in between Saturdays so that he would not be unavailable for any game, but he has now been caught out by the rare scheduling of a match for a Thursday night.

Andy McDonald

Club goalkeeping coach Lee Rutherford will deputise, as he did on occasions last season. Ards will also be without midfielder Gary Clifford, who declared his unavailability on this date to manager Tommy Kincaid some time ago.

The good news is that we will be able to call upon Craig McMillen again, with the winger free from his automatic one game suspension for his sending off against Queens. Free for selection also and able to make is debut is David Cully, who had also been serving a suspension over the past two weeks. His former club Portavogie completed their first game of the season on Saturday past making the player eligible for Ards once again.

The game against Second Division Wakehurst kicks off three matches in six days for Ards, in three different cup competitions. Dunmurry Rec follow on Saturday in the 2nd round of the Steel & Sons Cup, while a trip to Larne in the County Antrim Shield comes around on Tuesday night, 28th.

Fans intending to travel to Wakehurst should first make note of the 6.45pm kick-off and also the special directions that should be taken to access the Showgrounds.

The regular route of exiting the M2 at junction 11 should be followed as normal, however travelers should then turn left off the roundabout into the ecos centre. Follow this road (Kernohan's Lane) until a sign for The Showgrounds is seen and that road will take you directly to the carpark of the Wakehurst grounds.

ardsfc.co.uk