Ards faced Queens University for the second time in a matter of weeks. Captain Johnny Taylor continued to serve his suspension, while winger David McAllister remained injured.
It only took five minutes for the away side to open the scoring when a miscommunication between the Ards defenders and ‘keeper Brian Neeson meant that Matthew Hughes’s close-range strike was unchallenged and found the back of the net.
Then familiar face Jonah Mitchell’s freekick was off target. On 21 minutes Dylan Wilson’s lovely pass found striker Michael McLellan but his shot was cleared by the Queens ‘keeper.
McLellan was in action again when he missed a tap-in after Conor Lally misjudged an accurate cross from Eamon McAllister. Then McLellan’s glancing header was wide of the left hand post. Approaching the half hour Matthew Hughes’s strong strike from range skimmed over the bar.
Shortly after the home side levelled the scoring when a beautiful freekick from Craig McMillen found the head of Craig Harris with his header beating the Queens ‘keeper.
Ards failed to take advantage of another misjudgment from Lally when McMillen did very well to keep the ball alive with his pass finding McAllister.
Just before the break Ards had a goal disallowed when McLellan’s header found the back of the net but was ruled offside. The half ended 1-1.
The home team took the lead after 60 minutes when William Armstrong’s pass found Wilson with his lovely volley beating the ‘keeper. IAlmost instantly a mix up in the Ards defence gave Queens a great opportunity with their attempt striking off the post.
Then, Kym Nelson’s header was cleared off the line by Joshua Corry as both sides looked for another goal.
It was the home side who netted next when Dylan Wilson’s close range header found the back of the net to make it 3-1.
Queens scored their second when Nelson’s misjudged header found the back of the net to make it 3-2. A nervy end to the game saw Queens have multiple chances but they couldn’t take advantage of any of them so the game ended 3-2.
A good three points for Ards puts them back into the mix at the top of the table. Next up is Newry City at the Showgrounds.