Pre-Match Guide | Ards 14/02/23

We welcome Ards to Dixon Park this evening for our next Lough 41 Championship fixture.

Match Info

When: Tuesday 14th February – Kick-Off 7:45pm

Where: Dixon Park

What: Lough 41 Championship

Entry: Pay at the gate – £8 (Adult) / £5 (OAP & U16) / £3 (U12 in the company of an adult)

Match Sponsor: Ernest Hall Menswear

Ball Sponsor: B Craig & Co. Homeware & Hardware

The Opponents

Ards fell to a 1-0 defeat to HW Welders at Clandeboye Park on Saturday. The only goal of the game arrived four minutes into the second half when both Matthew Ferguson and keeper Alex Moore rose to meet the deflection of a Michael McLellan with the ball just creeping over the line despite Greg Hall’s attempted goalline clearance.

The Comrades

The Comrades’ poor run of league results continued with 2-0 defeat to Ballinamallard at Ferney Park on Saturday. On 61 minutes, the hosts took the lead when a ball played into the box from the right found substitute McIlwaine unmarked 6 yards out to fire into the net. Comrades made a number of substitutions to try to turn things around, but to no avail as Mallards looked comfortable with their lead. On 76 minutes they added to it when a cross played into the box was met by a powerful McIlwaine header which gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Last Time Out

The last time these two sides met in November, Adam Salley struck twice as ten-man Ards earned a point from the visit of Ballyclare Comrades to Clandeboye Park. He slid the ball home on 13 minutes to open the scoring for Matthew Tipton’s side, but Caomhan McGuinness levelled for the visitors just before the half-hour mark with an effort in off the underside of the bar. Ards were reduced to ten men soon after when TJ Murray received his second caution of the game, but they recovered to regain the lead just before the break through a Greg Hall header. Ballyclare levelled for a second time on the hour when Gary Donnelly scored direct from a corner. However, Ards moved in front once more a few minutes later when Salley converted from the spot for his second of the game … but the scoring wasn’t finished then as Donnelly also bagged his brace with a 25-yard effort beyond Alex Moore.