Carnegie League Cup: Wakehurst 2-3 Ards
23rd August 2007

A goal from Johnny Cleary a minute from time helped ensure Ards made it three wins from three in the Carnegie League Cup, but the victory looked far from convincing.

Ards had been ahead early on, only to fall 2-1 behind to gusty Wakehurst from the Second Division. With regular keeper Andy McDonald unavailable, Lee Rutherford was in goal, while changes to the midfield line-up saw Darren Kincaid start at right midfield and Stephen Johnston replace Johnny Shaw in the centre.

An early kick-off, 6.45 to be exact, didn't put off a decent band of dedicated Ards fans from traveling and they were rewarded on ten minutes when Ards got the opening goal. Kincaid supplied a near perfect cross for Ricky Billing and he fairly smashed the ball home from inside the area.

Lee Rutherford then kept the score in Ards favour with a fantastic double save, blocking two point blank efforts, the second from a kneeling position. On 37 minutes Billing took possession of the ball around 25 yards from goal and unleashed a shot on the turn that didn't miss the target by much.

Just seconds after that and Wakehurst leveled the tie, when Kenny Neilly reacted first to the ball after a shot had crashed off the Ards cross bar. Ards rallied though and before half time they could have been back in front. First on 39 minutes a cross from Cleary that was knocked on by Billing opened up an opportunity for Kincaid, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Then just on the whistle a great Ards move should have ended in a second goal for Billing. Gary Spence won the ball for Ards on the half way line and fed it wide to Cleary. His pass inside sent Billing through on goal only for the big man to drag his shot wide of the far post.

Johnny Cleary

Six minutes into the new half and the home side had turned the match around. A break by Neilly through the centre left the Ards defenders trailing and Rutherford could only help the ball into the net as it was chipped over his head.

Tommy Kincaid introduced David Cully and Johnny Shaw to the midfield after that and on 72 minutes Ards had their equaliser. A touch of fortune about it perhaps as a 25 yard shot from the impressive Craig McMillen eluded goalkeeper Wilson to trickle over the line.

Wakehurst were denied on 78 minutes by a terrific reflex save from Rutherford at his near post and just as it seemed the hard working hosts were about to earn a draw, Ards snatched the points on 89 minutes.

A foul against Billing out on the right flank, presented Johnny Cleary with a dead ball shot from all of 30 yards. His powerful drive was smartly dummied/flicked on by Billing, depending on who you talk to and that was enough to fluster the goalkeeper and the ball found the net.

ardsfc.co.uk