First meeting of the season against Carryduff at Henry Jones with an 11am kick off. What unfolded was a comeback know one predicted.
We started brightly and within the first 5 minutes we could have easily been two up, but we failed to find the net and Carryduff would soon make us pay for it. In the 10th minute Carryduff scored their first goal when we failed to clear our box and Carryduff scored. A minute later and they had doubled their lead with sloppy defending as we played the ball across our box and Carryduff’s striker was quick to latch on to it and put it in the back of the net to put his side 2.0 up. Carryduff were now in control of the match as we struggled to get on top of them and they grabbed a third goal in the 32nd minute.
HALF TIME: 3 . 0
The second half started with Carryduff starting the way the finished the first half and within five minutes were 4.0 up, very poor marking in the Ards defence when Carryduff floated over a free kick and their player was left at the back post unmarked to head the ball into the back of the net. It was now damage limitation as everyone on the side-line was thinking how many more but what was about to unfold none of us seen coming as the boys showed skill, courage and determination to dominated the last 20 minutes to produce a comeback that made everyone on the Ards line so proud off. We started to create chance but time was against us and we didn’t seem to be getting the luck in front of goal and with only 8 minutes left on the clock we managed to get a goal which everyone thought would be a consolation goal ( how wrong would we be ). Brandon McFerran brought the ball forward from the back found Reece Atkinson with the pass in midfield, he sent the ball out to Ryan Hannah on the right wing who quickly flick the ball with the back of his heal back to Reece to put him through on the Carryduff goal, he sent over the cross and the keeper spilled it and Noah Crenshaw was on hand to put the ball in the back of the net. Then 4 minutes remaining and we grabbed another, Carryduff played a long clearance out of their box which fell to Jordan Mulholland out on the left, 35 yards out he hit the ball high with power and the flight of the ball went over the keeper into the back off the net to make the score 4 : 2. Now the boys were up for the last minutes to try and make the score respectful. Two minutes remaining and we grabbed our third goal, the referee awarded us a free kick out on the right, Matthew Guest sent over the cross to the back post and Reece Atkinson fired in the header which hit the top of the net and came back out but the referee awarded the goal to make it 4 : 3 with only two minutes remaining. At this stage we were all thinking is it possible to get a fourth or was time going to beat us. The boys had other ideas they were determined to get something out of this game and 1 minute in to added time they did with a trade mark goal from Brandon McFerran, as we pushed forward we sent the ball in to the box Carryduff cleared the ball up the park and as the ball spun towards Brandon 30 yards out he took a touch the fired in a venomous shot that no keeper would save to square the match.
FULL TIME: 4 . 4
Managers comments:
What an unbelievable last 10 minutes boys, the sheer determination, guts and good football now you all have to believe in yourselves you have proved today that you can come back and play good football, we just have to stop conceding needless goals. Well done everyone. Round two next week as we play Carryduff again.
Coaches Comments:
Robbie Mc Garry Well done boys
Parents Comments:
Roberta Atkinson Well pleased:-)
