Midweek match and we were of to the hammer to play Shankill Juniors
The boys knew they had to get back to playing football the way they knew they can as a poor performance last week against St. Teresa's meant they had a point to prove and they set about doing that. They knew Shankill would be a tough opponent but we started well with bit and enthusiasm and took an early lead in the 8th minute when Travis Jamison found Jordan Mulholland in the box and Jordan made no mistake by drilling the ball in to the back of the net; 0 : 1 Ards. Our lead was short lived when Shankill broke in our box as the Shankill player went past Jack Patterson Jack seemed to trip him and the Referee awarded Shankill a penalty but Jack was adamant he didn't touch the player, never the less the penalty was awarded and Shankill converted it; 1 : 1. This match was end to end with both teams playing good football but Shankill would take the lead in the 17th minute; 2 : 1 Shankill. Our boys kept going and grabbed the equaliser 5 minutes later with probably the goal of the season from Jordan Mulholland, some good passing football in midfield saw the ball fall to Noah Crenshaw who immediately sent it out to Jordan on the left wing and from 35 yards out he sent a thunderous shot in to the top right hand corner of the net; 2 : 2 all square. The next 18 mins of the first half saw some good football and chances for both teams but at half time it was all square. HALF TIME; 2 : 2
Half time chat was simple keep the standard up and we would come out winners but in the first minute of the second half as we hadn't switch on Shankill took the lead again; 3 : 2 Shankill. The boys didn't let the goal get to them and kept plugging away, this was such an open game with both teams playing good football. With six minute left to go it was time to go for it as we went 3-5-2, Brandon McFerran making way for Joel Hill to come on to partner Ryan Hannah up front and almost immediately payed of as Rory Nelson bombed down the right wing firing over a dangerous low ball across the box and as Joel slid in he just couldn't get on the end of it. Shankill would catch us pushing forward in the last to minutes grabbing two goals. FULL TIME; 5 : 2
Managers Comments:
A far better performance all round boys more like you's, very unlucky not to get a result as with six minutes to go there was only a goal separating us. Now we need to keep this standard up and you will get results. A big thank you to Shankill for a great match play in a sporting manner as both teams came to play football and did just that.
