After a last minute equaliser meant that Ards only got one point away to Ballinmallard last week Ards looked to bounce back with a trip to Knockbreda. It was the home side that had the first real chance of the game when David Fearon’s freekick was blocked by the Ards wall with his follow up shot skimming the left post. In the tenth minute nice play by David McAllister gave him a goal scoring opportunity, however, his strike could only find the side netting. Fearon looked dangerous again but this time his free header was denied by Neeson, who pulled off his first save of the day. The uneventful first half ended 0-0. In the opening minutes of the second half a lovely ball from Armstrong couldn’t be taken advantage of by substitute McConnell as his strike was wide of the left hand post. Then Knockbreda danger man Fearon fired a strong strike wide of the right hand post as both teams looked for the crucial opening goal. In the seventy second minute TJ Murray’s pass connected with McAllister, however, his header wasn’t strong enough to cause the Knockbreda keeper an issue. Michael McLellan’s header looked goal bound in the seventy ninth minute but it trickled wide of the right hand post. However it was McLellan who opened the scoring three minutes later when his lovely freekick went past the Knockbreda wall and into the back of the net, 0-1. The game ended 0-1. Three points for Ards as they move to fourth in the Championship table. Ards take a break from league matches with this Tuesdays cup tie against Limavady.
Starting 11: Neeson, McMillan, Armstrong, McGovern, Calderwood, McMillen, D. Wilson, D. McAllister, Nelson, Murray and McLellan
Used Subs: Harris, McConnell and E. McAllister
Unused Subs: Fox and S. Wilson.
Yellow cards: Nelson and Harris.