An interesting two weeks for Ards has seen Warren Feeney leave the club for a full-time job in Bulgaria, whilst their game last week was postponed because of the bad weather. This week’s opponents were bottom of the table Knockbreda.
It didn’t take long for the home side to open the scoring when a David McAllister corner fell to Jamie McGovern whose scuffed shot found Johnny Taylor and his strike found the back of the net. 1-0 on 6 minutes.
However three minutes later Knockbreda controversially levelled the scoring with David Fearon’s run and strike beating the Ards defence and keeper even though he seemed offside.
On 23 minutes David McAllister’s skilful pass found Taylor but his header was saved by the Breda Keeper
The away side took the lead on 33 minutes when a skillful dummy let in Conall Delaney with his shot finding the back of the net.
The rest of the first half consisted of half chances for both sides, but neither could convert with the half ending 1-2.
Early in the second half Gary Lavery’s strike looked goal-bound but home captain Taylor was able to clear the danger off the line. Then lovely work from David McAllister was followed up by a strong header from Dylan Wilson finding the back of the net to make it 2-2 on 50 mins
Three minutes later the home side nearly took the lead when Taylor’s header was goal-bound, with the away side’s keeper Hazard tipping the danger over the bar.
With 25 left there was a chance that was easier to score than miss, with Michael McLellan hitting a tap in wide to the despair of the Red and Blue Army.
After multiple chances to take the lead, Ards came very close when Wilson’s close range strike was denied by the busy Knockbreda keeper.
Then Alex Pomeroy’s deflected shot was just wide of the left hand post for the visitors, before striker McLellan’s strong strike was just over the bar entering the final 10 minutes
However with only minutes remaining Ards keeper Brian Neeson conceded a penalty. Fearon took the spot kick with his strike finding the back of the net, meaning that Knockbreda took all three points away from the Bangor Fuels Arena.
Yellow cards- Kym Nelson, & Michael McLellan
Craig McClean speaking after the game: “I feel a bit deflated but, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games and the goals we gave away were poor. I’d sum it up as we just weren’t good enough in both boxes, maybe that’s the story of our season!
We created a lot of chances and passed the ball at times quite well. I think the key thing is when we brought it back to two each we were well on top of the game, but we needed to score and that was the difference. We were pushing and pushing and had chances but needed to score and when you don’t do that you’re susceptible to a counter attack, they broke away, got a penalty and scored it.
To be honest I haven’t thought about next week’s game. They’re going well but we’ve shown we can match them. I don’t know what’s going to happen from now, if I’ll be here or if someone else will I don’t know. I’ll have to speak to the chairman and to the board. I was asked to take it up to today and I suppose we’ll see what happens. I can’t see any reason if the boys play like they can why we can’t get all three points, they aren’t any better than us they’re just more consistent and can dig results out better when they aren’t playing well.
I was told to take it for these two games and was happy to do so. It’s a good group of lads. I can’t fault them and I literally was told to take it for the two games and that was it. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s something I’d like to do long term in the future. I don’t know what happens from now I’ve never been in this position before and maybe I’ll get a call from the chairman tomorrow and take it from there.”