PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP
NEWRY CITY 1
McNickle 55′
ARDS 4
Cafolla 12′, Carson 30′,
E. Scannell 79′, C. Scannell 85′
Rory McKee at the Newry Showgrounds
VICTORY on the road to Newry City last Friday night was Ards’ first at the Showgrounds venue for some 22 years, as they extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to four games.
Not since November 9, 2022 when goals from Craig McCracken, David Rainey and Peter Lowry secured a 3-1 Premier Division win had the Red and Blues managed to take three points from an away fixture with Newry. But Ards at last turned the tide on their sorry Showgrounds run by finding the net twice in each half at the weekend, a result which spelled the end of the road for City boss Barry Gray after 10 months at the helm.
Patrick Cafolla’s first goal since the end of January set the visitors on their way in after 12 minutes. The midfielder pounced upon a loose pass from Evan McEnteggart and showed dancing feet to evade two City defenders before picking out the far corner in style.
And the lead was doubled on the half-hour as Mark Carson got off the mark in red and blue, steering home from just inside the penalty area after lacklustre defending from the home side.
Newry’s first real sight of goal came five minutes later when Adam Carroll saw his near-post effort crash off the woodwork.
Ards possibly should have gone into the break three goals to the good, but Lee Newell was unable to find the target from the angle in first-half stoppage time.
The second period was 10 minutes old when Newry halved the deficit. Neat play between Carroll and home skipper Steven Ball saw the latter square for Ryan McNickle and he made no mistake from six yards out.
The hosts’ task was made all the more difficult on the hour-mark when Noel Healy was given his marching orders by referee Niall Devlin. Healy’s foul on Mark Carson had the match official reaching for a yellow card, but the long-serving defender’s reaction to the caution prompted Devlin to upgrade the punishment to red.
Ards restored their two-goal advantage with just over 10 minutes remaining. Good work from Cafolla and Aidan Steele down the right saw the ball break to Eamon Scannell who fired past Conor Mitchell for his third of the season.
And it was his brother Conor who put the result beyond all doubt in the 85th minute, keeping his cool from a breakaway as he guided the ball into the bottom right corner.
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Substitutes: Tipton (Simpson 66), C. Scannell (Carson 66), Barr (Hunter 66), Quinn (E. Scannell 89), McAvoy (McCart 89).
Not used: Moore, Arthur.
Booked: Cafolla, Carson.
Newry City: Mitchell, Healy, Smith, McCaffrey, O’Brien, Carroll, Forde, Ball (C), McNickle, Coleman, McEnteggart.
Substitutes: Honey (McEnteggart 67), Salley (McCaffrey 67).
Not used: McStay, O’Sullivan, O’Flaherty.
Booked: Forde, Healy (s/o), Ball.
