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Carnegie
First Division: Ards 0-2 Tobermore United
6th May 2008
 Clandeboye
Park saw the final First Division game of the season for both Ards and
Tobermore United on Tuesday night and it was the visitors who headed
home happy, thanks to two second half strikes.
A classic this game was
never going to be with not much at stake for either side, both of whom
took the opportunity to experiment with the line-up. Ards goalkeeper
Andy McDonald wasn't fit to play, so in came Jason Mooney for his third
start of the season. Aaron McKee returned to replace the suspended James
Wilson in the centre of midfield, but otherwise the Ards side was
unchanged from that which drew one-all at Fortwilliam on Saturday.
There were just a couple
of half chances very early on before the game lapsed into an early
slumber. Justin McBride scarcely troubled the Tobermore keeper with his
effort and then a weak kick out from Mooney was far from being punished
by Niall Cooke's long drive. On then to the 26th minute when Jonny Roy
claimed the ball in midfield and did well to slip it through for Kris
Pike, who had made a smart run into the box. The visitors' defence were
sharp through and Pike was well covered as he attempted to shoot.
Another good piece of play
in the 33rd minute saw right-back David Cully break through for Ards. He
took the ball to bye-line, only to cut back a touch too far for Darren
Stirling, though with all credit to the Ards striker, he still managed
to wrap his foot around the ball and strike wide. Tobermore followed up
with their first real chance of the game on 36 minutes when Paul Owens
drove a 35 yard effort just wide of Mooney's left hand post.
A couple of minutes after
that and a Tobermore free kick put Ards under pressure. The the kick was
only cleared as far as the No.6 on the edge of the box and his drive was
well saved by Mooney at his post, despite having seen the ball very
late. The second half began with Ards bringing on Sharratt and Gorman
for Roy and McBride and Sharratt was involved in the first Ards chance
of the new half. A 57th minute cross from Craig McMillen found Stirling
in the area who rose to challenge the goalkeeper. The ball ran loose for
Sharratt, who was well placed inside the visitor's box but he shot
straight into Hassan' arms.
An acrobatic effort from
Stirling a minute later could have seen Ards ahead but Hassan was never
troubled by the bicycle kick that lacked power and direction. Tobermore
appeared to have a strong penalty claim on 59 minutes when Owens went
down under Nixon's challenge but referee Alan Hayes waved away all
claims.
On 62 minutes United got
their piece of luck as Ards allowed a left-sided corner to flash right
across the goal to find Niall Cooke waiting to slam the ball high
into the net.
With both teams running
down the clock on their season, the game received an input of life from
Ards' teenage keeper Jason Mooney as, first he thundered a free kick
from over fifty yards inches wide of the Tobemore net, and then raced up
the field to head a McKee corner wide of the opposite post.
Finally with two minutes
left to play, Tobermore snatched a second goal with the ball played
square across the Ards backline to Owens on the edge of the area
and he slotted home to the far bottom corner.
Match
Sponsor Abbey Tiles, Unit 5, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, Tel 91814937
| Team |
Substitutes |
| 1 Jason Mooney (GK) |
14 Danny Mulholland
(for Pike 74) |
| 2 Darren Nixon (capt.) |
17 Gary Sharratt (for
Roy h/t) |
| 3 Kris Pike |
21 Thomas Gorman (for
McBride (h/t) |
| 4 Gary Spence |
22
Mark Parker |
6 Kerri Grant  47 |
23
Mark Drysdale
|
| 7 Craig McMillen |
|
| 9 Darren Stirling |
Referee
Alan Hayes |
| 10 Aaron McKee |
|
| 12 Jonny Roy |
|
| 18 David Cully |
|
| 20 Justin McBride |
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