Conor’s brace has Ards back in the top six

 

PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP

ARDS 3

MAXWELL 9’, C. SCANNELL 27’, 53’

ARMAGH CITY 1

MCCORMACK 73’

CONOR Scannell scored in each half as Ards beat Armagh City and moved back to the top half of the Championship table on Saturday.

It was Connor Maxwell who opened the scoring at Clandeboye Park with his second free-kick in the space of three games, his left-footed effort from 25 yards leaving City goalkeeper Keith Gaynor rooted to the spot.

The lead was then doubled inside half an hour when Scannell, drafted in for his first league start since the reverse fixture at Holm Park in August, escaped his marker and steered home Ross Hunter’s delivery.

Ards continued their dominance after the restart with the same combination leading to the third goal. This time Scannell was on hand to finish at the far post despite the efforts of Armagh’s Jack Clarke.

Hunter looked to have got in on the act after 70 minutes but was denied a goal after the match officials deemed there to be an offside in the build-up.

The visitors pulled one back from the resulting free-kick, substitute James McCormack reducing the arrears, but Ards managed the remainder of the game to claim all three points as they moved above Institute into sixth courtesy of goals scored.

Ards: Matthews, Maxwell, Ruddy, Cafolla, McCart, Simpson, Steele, Scannell, Hunter, Newell, Carson.

Substitutes: Moore, Greer, Arthur, Dobbin, Tipton, Alfred, Quinn.

Armagh City: Gaynor, Montgomery, Geraghty, King, Mullen, Rutkowski, Clarke, Jordan, Coogan, Oladunjoye, McMenemy.

Substitutes: Byrne, McCormack, Duffy, Anny-Nzekwue, McConnell, Okaidja, McCaffrey.