Lough 41 Championship.
Ards vs Ballinamallard.
Clandeboye Park.
Saturday 5th November at 3.00 p.m.
Having attended the game at Loughgall last weekend Ballinamallard's manager Harry McConkey will have seen both sides of an inconsistent Ards squad. A competitive hard working side that deserved to be at least level after 70 minutes and a side capable of a collapse that conceded four goals in eight minutes and ended up on the wrong side of a 6-1 scoreline.
A look at the league table reveals the problem for fans of the Red and Blues, sitting in seventh spot with 18 points after twelve games, they have won their last four home games but have only picked up six points from six away games, incidentally Ards have yet to draw a league game this season. The goals for and against columns are also revealing, with 20 scored only Ballyclare Comrades and Loughgall have scored more, but only Knockbreda have conceded more than the 26 Ards have let in. Ballinamallard are one point and two places ahead of Ards, as they sit fifth with 19 points, their goals column shows 16 scored and 16 conceded. Unusually eight of their 16 goals have come in two games, a 4-1 defeat of Ards at Ferney Park in September and an impressive 4-3 win at Newington last time out when they were losing 3-0 after only 27 minutes! Leading scorer Shane McGinty has scored five of those 16, so he and B.J. Banda who always seems to score against Ards will keep the Ards defence on their toes.
Ards fans will be hoping to extend their run of home wins but the Ducks are difficult to beat. Matthew Tipton will be looking for a 90 minute display that earns the three points that will take Ards above their opponents and into the top half of the table. Ballyclare are also on the same points total as Ards but have an easier task, on paper at least, at home to bottom of the table Dergview. Eighth placed Institute are currently four points behind Ards so they will not overtake them regardless of the respective results.
Match Officials :-
Referee :- Ryan Hanna.
1st Assistant :- Justin Maxwell.
2nd Assistant :- Gary Ewing.
Match Sponsor :- Perry Donaldson.
Ball Sponsor :- Albert Boal Quality Butchers, Newtownards.