Ards claimed a 2-0 victory in the annual supporters match against Bangor at Clandeboye Park on Saturday, to give them a 2-1 lead in the series.

The match took place for the third time as the pre-match entertainment for the North Down Cup game and Ards grabbed victory thanks to two second half goals from Ryan McKelvey and James Sproule.

The first half was a tight affair with openings for both sides, but neither able to take full advantage. With both squads suffering from the disadvantage of not having played together much beyond warm-up kick-arounds, there was little communication and teamwork on show.

However the second half and an influx of Ards substitutions changed the pace of the game and Bangor, who had a much smaller squad, were left trailing their opponents. Ards went in front only five minutes into the second half through Sproule and then the lead was doubled later on thanks to a McKelvey header.

Ards even had the luxury of missing a second half spot kick awarded for handball as Drew Burgess lined up to shoot. Bangor still had the last laugh there though as Burgess saw his penalty well saved by the Bangor keeper.

So Ards lifted the cup for the second successive season of what has proved to be a greatly successful and popular event. The Ards players would like to pass on their thanks to Ards FC for supplying the playing kit once again.

The Ards squad: Dougie Needam, Andrew McCullough, Drew Burgess, Adrian Monaghan, Keith Bailie, Keith Gilmore, Alan Potts, Michael McKeown, Stuart Killen, Davy Killen, Ryan O'Neill, Andrew Gray, Ryan McKelvey, Willy McMullan, Peter Clayton, Andy Hamilton, Craig Orr and James Sproule.

www.ardsfc.co.uk
7 August 2005