The boys played some superb football against a very strong Bryansburn team who last year won the Ards Borough League.
We started the game very strongly and in the first ten minutes had some good chances to score through Noah Crenshaw, Ryan Hannah, Reece Atkinson & Marcus Baron but Bryansburn defended very well. The boys keep playing well as a team passing the ball around and got their reward in the 13th minute when they got a corner kick, Matthew Guest sent the corner in and JP headed the ball into the net to put us 1 : 0 up. We kept pushing with Reece, Stuart & Matthew controlling the midfield and spreading the ball out to Ryan Hannah on the right wing and Marcus Baron on the left wing and both wingers were giving Bryansburn a hard time off it. We went 2 : 0 up in the 19th minute when Matthew Guest threads a ball through to Noah Crenshaw who went on to put the ball into the back of the net. Our defence was handling anything that was coming their way and Jai Sykes in goals was well in control of his area and beyond. His goal kicks were well into the opponents half and kicking out from hand he was easily putting the ball into Bryansburn's box. Bryansburn pulled a goal back 3 minutes from half time when they got a corner, when the ball came in to our box slack marking on our behalf let them score to make it 2 : 1. Bryansburn got a lift from their goal and came at us again one on one with Jai but as the shot had goal written on it Jai pulled of a super one handed save to push the ball round his post for a corner. Right on the stroke of half time saw us grab a third goal, Reece Atkinson turn on the ball to find Matthew Guest 20 yards out and Matthew let loose with one of his now know trade mark strikes into the back of the net to put us 3 : 1 up at half time.
HALF TIME 3 : 1
The second half started and we got off to a great start again, 2 minutes gone and we were 4 : 1 up. Some lovely football in midfield got the ball to Noah on the edge of Bryansburn's box he quickly turn to square the ball to Stuart Hannah who split the defence in half and as the keeper came out to meet him he calmly slotted the ball past the keeper into the net. As the game went on Ards started to tire as this was their first match it was to be expected and a mix up in defence saw Bryanburn's striker get onto a loose ball and go through on goal and score to make it 4 : 2. The call from the side line was to lift their game for the last 10 minutes and that call was answered as Ards took control again and 2 minutes from full time we scored again. Matthew Guest went down the left tried to put the ball across but hit the defender and went out for a corner. Matthew floated over the corner and JP again met it to head in his second of the match and make the final score 5 : 2.
Managers Comments:
Well done boys a superb performance of football by all, so proud of the work rate you all put in especially with this being your first match back.
I must give a special mention to our new team Captain Brandon McFerran who had a faultless game and our Assistant team Captain Jai Sykes in goals who was outstanding. Also to Stuart Hannah who for 4 years has been a sub with us never complained and was give his chance and played great football and scored as well.
