After winning the Chronicle Cup last week, Ards faced former next-door neighbours Ards Rangers on a windy Saturday afternoon.
In the ninth minute Craig McMillen had his free kick denied by Ferguson in the home side's nets. Then Soffley’s strike made Danny Devine produce a fine save. Shortly afterwards the Rangers captain had an attempt that was just over the bar. However, late in first-half stoppage time, the home side opened the scoring when Newberry picked up the ball near the half way line and advanced unchallenged to beat Devine and give the home side the lead against a strangely subdued Ards.
The first chance of the second half fell to Ards when a header was blocked with the follow-up strike being saved by Ferguson, Craig McMillen felt the ball had crossed the line for an equaliser but his plea fell on deaf ears.. In the sixty eighth minute Jake Corbett's header from a Craig McMillen corner was on target, but was also denied by the Rangers stopper.
There were few clear chances for either side, Sean Green’s header was off target for the away side while Simpson’s close-range strike was then saved, with the home bench appealing in vain for a hand ball decision. As tempers rose the referee requested that two players be substituted in order to avoid cards being shown. The last chance of the game came five minutes from time when Craig McMillen's looping corner was cleared with the ball falling to Kyle Calderwood, but his overhead strike was off target and the game ended 1-0.
A disappointing result for Ards, with attentions now turning to Saturday's friendly against Newtownards RBL.
Starting eleven :- Devine, Young, Calderwood, Magill, Dinu, E.McAllister,Corbett, Murray, Glover,McMillen, Roohi.
Substitutes :- Argyrides, Harwood, Green, Shearer, McKee, Higginson.