With the original fixture at Ballywooley call off yesterday the league reversed the fixture to be played at Dairyhall with a 10am kick off.
With a narrow defeat to Bryansburn in the 3rd round of the cup the boys were out to set the records straight and they went about it in a top class footballing performance.
They totally dominated the first half and could have easily went in at half time four or five up but it was a half that would see are play some great football and team work. Before we got the first goal in the 17th minute we had three or four corners that every time Matthew Guest put the ball in the box it was just asking for someone to get on the end of one but the first goal came when Jack Patterson found Noah Crenshaw in the Bryansburn box and Noah turned to put the ball in the net; 1:0 Ards. We kept pushing forward and it was looking like being another one of those games where we were going to struggle to put the ball in the net. The three in midfield were running the show, Edward Muldrew was a power house in that central role winning most of the tackles, Reece Atkinson was doubtful before the match but as a true team Captain he went on and played a Captains role & Jack Patterson with his engine was causing Bryansburn all sorts of trouble. Noah Crenshaw who played in an unusual role on the right wing had his best game of the season but Stuart Hannah on the left winning who started the game well pulled up with a calf strain and was replaced in the 21st minute by Caleb Surgenor who went up front and Ryan Hannah came out to the left wing and his strength and skills torchered the Bryansburn right back. We doubled our lead right on the stroke of half time when again Jack Patterson set up Noah Crenshaw for his second goal of the match; 2:0 Ards.
The back four of Brandon, Joel, Matthew & Jordan were solid and never looked bothered throughout the first half so much so that at half time Jai was so cold in goals he had to put another jersey on just to keep warm.
HALF TIME: 2 . 0
The half time team talk was brief more of the same boys.
We started the second half as we did the first half on the front foot and within 5 minutes we grabbed our third goal, we earned another corner kick, Matthew sent over the corner and there was a scramble in the box, Caleb kept a cool head by laying the ball back to the oncoming Ryan Hannah just on the edge of the box and Ryan let rip a ferocious right foot shot that hit the back of the net; 3:0 Ards. The boys were on fire but fair play to Bryansburn they came out in the second half determined to make a match of it. We got a wake up call when Bryansburn got a goal back, again a goal that should have been prevented when Joel got caught on the ball and although Jai was unlucky not to divert the shot; 3.1.
The boys then had a slack five minutes when Jai was called upon for the first time to make to excellent saves but the boys were in know mood to let these three points slip and stepped it back up a gear. The game was all but over in the 63rd minute when Reece Atkinson split the defence with an inch perfect pass for Noah Crenshaw to go one on one with the keeper, but when Noah skipped round the keeper the keeper grabbed him round the neck and pulled him to the ground. The Referee was right up with play and didn't hesitate to award the penalty and show the Bryansburn keeper a red card. Up stepped our Captain Reece Atkinson to keep his 100% record from the spot and make it 4:1 for the RABA. Ben Dempster came on to replace the hard working Joel Hill which meant Edward Muldrew would move into centre back Caleb Surgenor slipping back in to a defensive midfield role and Ben would go up front. Ben was only on the pitch two or three minutes and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when he hit a dipping volley just over the crossbar. The finally substitution was Ben Appleton who came on and replaced Reece Atkinson who was carrying a lot of war wounds and had worked his socks off even though he was carrying an injury. Ben Appleton should have scored in the last minute of the match when the ball came over to him at the back post and with the goal gapping he took is eye off the ball and miskicked his shot over the bar.
FULL TIME: 4 . 1
Managers comments:
Brilliant footballing performance today boys back on track, these are the performances that will win you the league so lets go and get it. RABA#
Coaches Comments:
Robbie Mc Garry
Great result today from Ards Fc U16s beating Bryansburn 4-1 some great football played and a very good team performance now let's take this into the next game.
Players Comments:
Ben Dempster
Dundonald win yesterday Ards win today, DHS #RABA brilliant performance today lads!
Joel Gsb Hill
Woohoo, good win today lads!
