PLAYR-FIT Teamwear Championship.
Ards vs Newington.
Clandeboye Park.
Saturday 13th April at 3.00 p.m.
Ards go into this game hoping to do what they haven't yet done all season, namely win three league games in a row. Their deserved 3-0 win over basement club Knockbreda on Tuesday night was a follow up to their 2-0 defeat of Dergview at Clandeboye Park in their previous game and those six points mean that Ards are now mathematically safe from automatic relegation. The Red and Blues are now in a tussle with Dergview to avoid finishing in the relegation play off place. Currently Ards hold the advantage, sitting seven points ahead of Dergview with only four games to go, so given the current goal difference, another five points would clinch survival. However Ards have to travel to Dergview for the last of the post-split fixtures in what could be a difficult game, so would hope to have the job done before then. Dergview travel to Ballinamallard on Saturday, then finish with three home games. Ards of course have Ballyclare Comrades visiting next Tuesday, then finish with trips to Ballinamallard and Dergview.
Sitting in ninth position, Newington are only one place ahead of Ards in the table, but have a total of 48 points, a full 16 ahead of Ards, however this isn't an easy game to call. While Newington clearly hold the bragging rights, having beaten Ards three times this season, including a 3-1 win on opening day and a 4-1 mauling at Inver in December, those wins over Dergview and Knockbreda mean Ards have better current form and hopefully a bit of momentum, as Newington have only picked up two points in their last five fixtures. Perhaps another indicator in favour of Ards is that they were unlucky to lose the most recent encounter, a 1-0 defeat at Inver Park at the end of February, when they had the better of the chances but lost to a goal from Ruaidhri Donnelly. Donnelly was signed from Glentoran to replace top scorer Zach Barr who left for Portadown in January and he has been a more than capable alternative to Barr, having scored five in his seven games so far, although he hasn't been in the panel for any of Newington's last three games.
Ards fans will be hoping for a similar display to that on show on Tuesday, when a determined and committed performance ended up with a deserved three points, even if we did have to wait until late on to clinch it with two goals from Lee Newell and Callum Dougan, which added to Aiden Steele's first half opener. The return of Eamon Scannell to the squad following his three game suspension can only be good news, giving John Bailie some more options on the pitch.
Hopefully a good home crowd will turn up to support the team in this vital fixture, those that made it to Seaview on Tuesday left in no doubt that the players appreciated the backing of the travelling fans.
Ball Sponsor :- Ivor Edgar.
Match Officials :-
Referee :- Gareth Stewart.
1st Assistant :- Ethan Craig.
2nd Assistant :- Bryan Magill.