By Daniel Noble
Kilmore Rec 2 Ards 4
ARDS rolled with the punches to see off NAFL Division 1A side Kilmore Rec at Robert Adams Park on Saturday, making it three wins on the trot as pre-season nears its conclusion.
Connor Maxwell opened Ards’ account from the spot in the first minute and although Kilmore hit back through Joe Healy, an Eamon Scannell brace gave the visitors a two-goal buffer at half-time.
A second Healy strike saw the Rec force their way back into the contest after the break, only for a fortunate Cameron Kelly goal to rubber stamp the victory for their NIFL Championship opponents.
Coming off the back of convincing wins over Knockbreda and Abbey Villa, Ards issued their intent from the off in Crossgar, storming into the lead with their first attack.
Jamie Browne headed Eamon Scannell’s cross on to the post and the ensuing scramble saw Trialist brought down for a penalty, which Maxwell dully converted, sending goalkeeper Conor McCann the wrong way.
The opener caused a lull in proceedings, with neither side threatening a goal until the 15th minute, when Browne cut through the ball with a long-range strike, forcing a sprawling McCann to tip over the crossbar.
However, despite the Red and Blues enjoying the lion’s share of the chances, the home side came back swinging with a shock equaliser.
A corner provided a rare opportunity for the Rec to put bodies in the box, yet it was Healy, waiting on the edge of the area, who rifled into the top corner on the half-volley.
The end-to-end tussle that followed was not one many would have expected, but both sides had chances to snatch the lead, with Ards’ James McClure calling McCann into action at point-blank range and Kilmore’s Fionn Mulhern rattling the bar.
While the Blues’ fans were noticeably enthused by their side asking questions of higher-level opposition, the gulf in class eventually came to the fore.
Trialist split the home defence with a perfectly-weighted through ball and found McClure, who cut back to his captain, Eamon Scannell, for a composed finish and the second away lead of the game.
The Ards skipper needed less than a minute to double his tally, cleaning up after Browne brought a smart stop from McCann on the end of Conor Scannell’s cross and giving his side a comfortable cushion at the mid-way point.
To the surprise of the travelling support, any such breathing room dissipated 12 minutes into the second period, when a free-kick was not dealt with and Healy produced his second unstoppable strike of the afternoon, volleying home via the underside of the bar.
The hosts thought they had restored parity just two minutes later, but Rory Timoney headed over from John Mahoney’s pinpoint delivery.
That awakened a sleeping beast in Ards and, after Browne headed on to the post, more McCann heroics denied Jack Boyd in the six-yard box, they hit the eventual winner 11 minutes from time.
It was the combination of two substitutes which, as a result of a stroke of luck, forced the deciding goal, as Jaydyn Withers’ effort ricocheted off Kelly and squeezed its way into the bottom corner.
With the 2026/27 season fast approaching, Ards will make their final preparations with a trip to face Lisburn Distillery on Saturday, before travelling to giants Glenavon in their opening Championship fixture on August 8.
Kilmore: C McCann, C Nelson, J Mahoney, J Larkin (captain), M Stewart, J Healy, S McGrattan, F Mulhern, P Grant, R Timoney, S McMahon. Subs: R Hamilton, C Peacock, R Gill, C Fitzsimons, T Rowden, J Burns.
Ards: M Matthews, C Scannell, K Reid, B Mullen, C Maxwell, E Scannell (captain), G Tipton, J Browne, E Simpson, J McClure, Trialist. Subs: J Taylor, T Mathieson, R Arthur, R Bailie, C Kelly, P Cafolla, S Brennan, J Boyd, J Withers.
