Ards came into the second match of the 2019/20 Championship season on top of the table with a goal difference of plus four. Opponents Harland & Wolff Welders finished in 6th place in the Championship last year.
It didn’t take long for Ards to open the scoring as, just a minute in, an unstoppable strike from Michael McLellan found the back of the net. 1-0 to the home side.
Then lovely play between goal scorer McLellan and Craig McMillen gave Kym Nelson a great opportunity but his volley was well saved in the twelfth minute. Minutes later McMillen’s strike from the edge of the box was saved by the Welders’ keeper, with the counter attack making Brian Neeson produce his first save of the match.
Good teamwork between the McAllister brothers saw Eamon’s strong goal-bound shot palmed away to give Ards a corner, but the danger was quickly cleared away by the Welders’ defence.
The closing stages of the first half saw the Welders have their best chances with Adam Wright having two attempts denied by Ards stopper Neeson. The half ended 1-0.
In the opening seconds of the second half Eamon McAllister’s strike from distance was well saved by Ryan Miskelly. Then the Welders nearly equalised when a strike from Scott Nixon looked goal-bound but Scott McMillan cleared the ball off the line to keep the game at 1-0.
Substitute Dylan Wilson then had his strike from inside the box saved by the busy Welders keeper in the seventy ninth minute. The last major chance of the game fell to McMillen in the eighth fifth minute when his one on one strike was saved by Miskelly. The game ended 1-0.
Another three points for Ards who will look to make it three wins from three on Saturday when they welcome Newry City to the Bangor Fuels Arena.
Starting XI: Neeson, McMillan, Armstrong, Taylor, McGovern, Murray, McMillen, D. McAllister, E. McAllister, Nelson & McLellan.
Used Subs: Calderwood, McConnell & Wilson.
Yellow cards: Murray, McMillen & Armstrong