Ards 0
Dundela 1
ARDS were unable to make it back-to-back wins in the post-league-split season when they narrowly lost at home to second-from-bottom Dundela.
The home side were 26 points ahead of their opponents before kick-off, and in any other season Dundela would be one of the favourites for the chop, but with relegation on hold ahead of the Championship restructure, both sides were playing to build momentum for the next campaign.
Nonetheless, Ards entered the game as heavy favourites, coming off the back of victory away to Ballinamallard United, however, it was the visitors who snatched all three points, courtesy of Oisin Barr’s first-half goal.
With Storm Dave arriving as the action got underway, it quickly became evident it was going to be tough for both teams to play attractive football, and much of the early play broke down as a result.
While Ards tried their best to find a gap in the away defence throughout the opening encounters, the wind made it nigh on impossible to produce a killer ball.
The first chance of the day did not arrive until the ninth minute, when Jack Reilly’s cross was brought down by Darius Roohi and laid off to Gary Donnelly, who fired an outside-of-the-boot shot a whisker wide of the post.
Dundela forward Barr almost pulled a goal from out of nothing at the other end, five minutes later, beating two men and whipping a long-range shot narrowly wide.
Connor Maxwell was next to try his luck for the hosts, meeting a half-hearted clearance, from a Conor Scannell cross, and unleashing a ferocious effort from distance, which deflected off Roohi and bounced behind.
The end-to-end pattern of play continued and with Dundela captain Andrew Hall delivering a free-kick into the back post, Matthew Ferguson side-footed goalward, forcing Marc Matthews to push the ball around the upright.
The resultant corner came to nothing and Ards went flying up the other end, with skipper Eamon Scannell finding Reilly, who smashed straight at goalkeeper Lewis Hunter.
The Red and Blue Army’s wasted chances came back to haunt them soon after, as Ferguson split their defence with a scintillating pass and Barr ran on to it, dinking the ball over Matthews for a sublime finish and a 1-0 lead at the break.
Weather conditions really took a grip of the game in the second half, much to the detriment of the action, with chances at a premium and Ards struggling to find a route back into the contest.
They had to wait until the 52-minute mark for their first opportunity, when Jamie Browne showed great tenacity to shrug off a challenge and play Eamon Scannell through on goal.
The home captain, with time and space, only had Hunter to beat, but he rushed the shot and blazed over the crossbar.
Dundela’s first chance of the second period arrived in the 68th minute. Barr’s low, driven cross took a hefty deflection and required the reactions of Matthews to keep it out.
As time wore on, it became clear that the hosts would need a mistake or something special to force at least a share of the points – something that almost happened with 14 minutes left.
Visiting number one Hunter spilled Donnelly’s corner into the six-yard box and despite only needing to be prodded home, the attackers could not apply a finishing touch.
Although the home side were left chasing a result in the dying embers, it was Dundela who came closest to the second goal.
Ferguson latched on to a loose ball in the box and hooked a shot towards goal and with Matthews left scrambling, it bounced inches wide of the upright.
Referee Stewart Long added a generous four minutes on at the end of regular time, but with no opportunities landing the home side’s way, they suffered their first defeat in five games.
Ards will look to dust themselves down and put this result behind them when they welcome bottom-of-the-league Armagh City to Clandeboye Park for their final home game of the season on Saturday.
Ards: M Matthews, C Maxwell, R Arthur, E Scannell (captain), G Donnelly, J Browne, C Scannell, D Roohi, J Reilly, T Mathieson, B Mullen. Subs: J Taylor, E Simpson, M Carson, S Brennan, C Kelly, R Bailie, C Finlay.
Dundela: L Hunter, M Kerr, I Fletcher, C Dornan, A Hall (captain), M Ferguson, O Barr, D Taylor, B Walker, O McConville, J Smith. Subs: A Hogg, L Tennant, A Hoey, L Burns, W Francey, R Adams, S Jallow.
