Warrenpoint Town 1
Ards FC 3
BOYLE SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP
By Phillip Bartlett
ARDS FC made it three games unbeaten at the start of the season with a dramatic 3–1 victory over Warrenpoint Town at Milltown on Saturday.
The visitors started with the same 11 that secured a creditable draw against Dundela on Tuesday evening and immediately looked comfortable in possession, moving the ball quickly and forcing Warrenpoint to chase.
However, it took just two minutes for the home side to threaten. Adam Carroll collected the ball just outside the box and fired towards goal, but Ards goalkeeper Marc Matthews reacted sharply, getting down to his left to make the save.
Ards continued to see plenty of the ball during the opening stages, with their passing and movement causing problems for the hosts.
They came close to opening the scoring when Connor Maxwell drove through the middle and switched the ball out to Browne, whose delivery was headed wide by Eamon Scannell.
Warrenpoint briefly thought they had taken the lead when Carroll headed home from close range, but the assistant’s flag was already raised, and the goal was ruled out for offside.
The pressure was building, and it finally told after 20 minutes. A through ball from McClure looked to have been dealt with by Crane, who was shielding it towards the touchline.
Jamie Browne had other ideas. Refusing to give up on what looked like a lost cause, he won the ball right on the line and cut a superb pass back into the box, where Ethan Simpson arrived to smash beyond Devine.
It was a goal created as much by Browne’s determination as Simpson’s finish, and on the
balance of play, Ards deserved their lead.
On the half-hour mark, Farley burst forward from full-back and was allowed too much space to advance before getting a shot away. Matthews stayed big and blocked the effort with his feet.
Four minutes later, he was called upon again, making another smart save from Carroll after the Warrenpoint striker had been given too much time and space inside the box.
Then came a huge moment at the other end, when Conor Scannell beat his man and crossed towards the back post, where Browne rose highest and headed back across goal.
It looked destined to double the lead, only for Devine to somehow read the danger and tip the ball over the bar.
It had been a lively opening 45 minutes. There were opportunities at both ends, but Ards had looked the more accomplished side and went into the break with a deserved lead.
Although Warrenpoint came out looking to respond, a major turning point came in the 52nd minute, as Eamon Scannell broke through on goal and Murray pulled him back, with the referee wasting no time in issuing a red card.
Ards had a man advantage and looked to be in an ideal position to take control, however,
football rarely follows the script and, just five minutes later, the visitors were reduced to 10 men themselves.
James McClure, already booked for a late challenge on Devine early in the second half, was shown a second yellow, as Ards’ numerical advantage disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived.
The away side responded by making changes, with Jack Smith and Fiontan O’Boyle introduced for Caoimhan Crossan and Simpson.
With 11 minutes remaining, the game turned yet again, as O’Hanlon’s knock-down fell invitingly into the path of Jinadu, who managed to squeeze his effort through Matthews’ legs and into the goal.
In previous seasons, Ards may have capitulated and lost this game but, just four minutes later, Browne lofted a ball towards goal and O’Boyle was in the right place at
exactly the right time, tapping the ball home from barely a yard out.
The Red and Blues were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go, and Maxwell was handed the opportunity to put the game beyond doubt from 12 yards out.
Devine guessed correctly and saved the spot kick and, as the rebound broke to Smith, the home number one recovered to make another superb stop.
From penalty despair to goal delight almost instantly, Ards went straight back down the other end and finally put the game to bed.
Browne found himself surrounded by three Warrenpoint defenders, but instead of panicking, he kept his composure and found the finish beyond Devine.
Warrenpoint tried to summon one final response during stoppage time, with a clash between Matthews and Conor Scannell causing a brief stoppage.
Then, deep into added time, the hosts thought they had found a consolation, as Crane bundled the ball into the net from a corner, but the referee had spotted a foul in the build-up and awarded Ards free-kick.
The final whistle brought an end to an absorbing afternoon at Milltown, with Ards making the long journey home with three points, sitting proudly at the top of the table, joint
with Newington on seven points after three games.
Ards will now turn focus to back-to-back home games, welcoming Loughgall and Queen’s to Clandeboye Park.
