This week we were yet again on our travels, this time we headed to Carrick to play Barn Utd. with an 11am Kick Off.
We arrived in Carrick with only 12 players is due mainly to non attendance at training. The boys all knew what was expected of them as they needed to get back to playing the football we all know they are capable off and that's exactly what they did. They started brightly and sharply and within minutes we were unlucky not to score when Rory Nelson raced down the right wing cut into the box and fired a shot just over the bar. In the 8th minute we went in front when Reece Atkinson threaded a pin point pass through for Rory Nelson to get on to he went steaming past the defence and fired the ball into the net; 0 : 1 Ards. The boys were settling in nicely, passing the ball about well and were defensively solid. In the 15th minute we came close again when Jordan Mulholland let fly from 25 yards out and it went just over the bar. Four minutes later we double our lead, Noah Crenshaw found Ryan Hannah on the edge of the box who turned the defender and coolly slotted the ball pass the keeper into the net; 0 : 2 Ards. We were looking more like the team we were at the start of the season, playing together, supporting each other and we were in total control of the match. In the 29th minute we should have three up when Jack Patterson sent Rory Nelson away one on one with the keeper and as the keeper came rushing out Rory chipped the ball over him but it went just over the crossbar. Five minutes before half time Reece Atkinson sent over the corner which was met by the head of Jack Patterson only for it to go just over the crossbar. HALF TIME; 0 : 2
The second half was a real team effort on hard work and team work given the circumstances with Stuart Hannah switching from the left wing to the right back position and Travis Jamison going into a holding midfield role. We created enough chances in the second half to add to our scoreline but just couldn't find the net. Barns best chance of the match came in the 77th minute when their striker hit a long range effort that crashed of the crossbar and the Ards defence cleared. FULL TIME; 0 : 2
Managers Comments:
Superb team performance today boys a well deserved three points and our first clean sheet, the back four of Jordan Mulholland, Jordan Barkley, Jack Patterson & Travis Jamison were solid and Jai Sykes in goals never put a foot wrong and Stuart Hannah when he went into right back he to was solid. Midfield worked tirelessly from back to from and Ryan Hannah up front on his own worked his socks off chasing everything with the support of Rory Nelson. Curtis Higgins came on as a sub and worked hard. Well done all I knew you would lift your game and you did, next challenge Bryansburn at home lets keep it going.
Coaches Comment:
Robbie McGarry: 2 nil Lads well done 3 points against Barn Utd
