CLEARER WATER IRISH CUP
PORTAFERRY ROVERS 1
ARDS RANGERS 3
By Dessie Adams
ARDS Rangers were again involved in cup action on Saturday with a visit to Portaferry Rovers in the second round of the Irish Cup – a team they had defeated heavily at Drome Park on the first day of the season – and they maintained their 100 percent cent record this season thanks to a 3-1 win.
Rangers made five changes to their usual starting 11 with a number of regulars on the bench. They started slowly, finding it hard to get to grips with the pitch and the windy conditions as Portaferry stayed well in the game during the early stages of the half.
However, the visitors had a great chance to open the scoring 24 minutes in when they were awarded a penalty and, with regular taker James Sofley on the bench, up stepped top scorer Reece Ritchie but he dragged the spot kick wide of the goal to leave the scoresheet blank.
Rangers were mainly in control for the remainder of the half, but their killer touch was lacking and the game was still goalless at the break.
Rangers introduced Matthew Torrens, making his long-awaited return to the first team, along with Gary Watson on the restart and they dominated play, finally breaking the deadlock with 59 minutes gone when captain Matty Lee struck home.
One minute later it was 2-0 after Kyle Mackie got on to the end of a Lee through ball before hitting the post and the ball kindly bounced into the path of Dwaine Beattie who smashed it past the Rovers ’keeper.
Rangers introduced a further three substitutes in James Sofley, Jordan Lucas and Mark Armstrong on 70 minutes but were caught on the hop minutes later when Garrett Curran struck for Portaferry before being sent off for a second yellow card offence minutes later.
On the 80-minute mark the tie was wrapped up for Rangers as Scott Spiers got his first goal for the club to complete a 3-1 scoreline and send Rangers into round three, where they will meet Premier Intermediate League side Queen’s University at Drome Park on October 26.
Other results
fonaCAB Craig Stanfield Junior Cup: FC Moylena 2-9 Ards Rangers II (Noah Crenshaw x4, Josh Creaney x2, Michael Evans, Owen Phillips, Toby Wright)
DAWFL Premier: Ards Rangers III 1-2 Comber YM (Bradley McCourt)
DAWFL Reserve 2: Ballynafeigh Breda Star II 0-8 Ards Rangers IV (Kingston Whiteside x4, Ross McCullough, Ryan Andrews, Craig Murray, Kyle Heron)
Fixtures
2pm unless stated
Border Cup R2: Ards Rangers v Killyleagh YC at Drome Park
Junior Shield R1: Lower Shankill v Ards Rangers II at The Hammer (1.30pm)
DAWFL Premier: Cooke Athletic v Ards Rangers III at Cherryvale
DAWFL Reserve 2: Ards Rangers IV v Millisle II at Londonderry Park
