PLAYR-FIT CHAMPIONSHIP
BALLYCLARE COMRADES 3
HEALY 24’, 64’, 84’
ARDS 2
BARR 13’, STEELE 77’
ARDS were left empty handed for the fourth league game running as Brian Healy’s hat-trick inspired Ballyclare Comrades to victory by the odd goal in five at Dixon Park last Saturday.
Although the Red and Blues found the net twice for the first time since the draw with Ballinamallard United on August 24, strikes in each half from Zach Barr and Aidan Steele proved to be in vain as their defensive frailties were laid bare yet again.
It was Ards who hit the front inside the quarter-hour when Eamon Scannell picked out Connor Maxwell wide on the left and the wing-back’s square ball was tucked away by Barr for his third goal of the season from around eight yards out.
But the lead lasted little more than 10 minutes after former Newry City forward Healy capitalised on indecision in the visitors’ defence to slot home the equaliser.
In an end-to-end first period Odhran McCart saw a chance to put Ards back ahead go begging, before Scannell failed to find the target with a free header after 35 minutes.
John Bailie’s side continued in search of a second goal before the break with Ross Hunter, making his first start of the season, was denied by Comrades ’keeper Adam Ritchie on 42 and then adjudged to be offside having watched an effort strike the post two minutes later.
The woodwork continued to be Ards’ nemesis after the restart, this time Aidan Steele seeing his header come back off the post. The glut of missed chances came back to haunt the visitors just after the hour as Healy stroked home from inside the area after Marc Matthews had saved from Michael Morgan’s initial effort.
With 13 minutes remaining Aidan Steele got Ards back on level terms with his header deemed to have crossed the line by referee Diarmuid Harrigan. However it would be Healy and Ballyclare who had the last say, the 20 year-old connecting with Cillin Gilmour’s delivery to beat Matthews at the back post and leaving Ards with all too familiar sinking feeling.
For a side leaking an average of more than two goals per game so far this term, a clash against early-season pacesetters Harland and Wolff Welders at Clandeboye Park this weekend is probably the last fixture Ards could have wished for as they look to halt their losing run.
Paul Kee’s free-scoring side were dealt a blow when leading marksman Matthew Ferguson left to join Bangor in the summer, but others such as Tiarnan O’Connor and Lewis Mearns have ably stepped up the plate with the Welders netting 24 times across their first seven games.
The Welders also boast the second meanest defence in the league at this stage, conceding just over half of the 16 Ards have shipped so far with nine.
–
Substitutes: C. Scannell (McCart 57), Simpson (Cafolla 57), Newell (Barr 70).
Not used: Gibbons, Ruddy, Carson, Tipton.
Booked: Maxwell
Ballyclare Comrades: Ritchie, McConville, Hassin, Gilmour (C), Roohi, Morgan, Quinn, Healy, McAleer, McGreevy, McMurtry.
Substitutes: Johnston (McGreevy 62), Murphy (Quinn 85).
Not used: Walker, Mervyn, McCune, Gray, Leetch.
Booked: Hassin, Gilmour, McAleer.
Referee: Diarmuid Harrigan
