Healy double seals win at Ards

After their run of victories ended at Clandeboye Road against Bangor in their previous match, Comrades returned to winning ways against Ards at the same venue.

The hosts started strongly. Inside two minutes they had a great chance to take the lead when Newell latched onto a short back pass, but Gerard Walker was alert, advancing from his line to make a vital block as the striker shot. Two minutes later the same player was denied again when he got on the end of a dangerous ball played into the box by Scannell, but this time Owen McConville was able to get in the way of Newell’s goal bound effort on the line and Comrades managed to scramble it clear.

With their first real attack in the eight minute the visitors then hit the front against the run of play. The goal was very well worked, with Brian Healy sliding a superb pass across to Michael Morgan which provided him with the opportunity to step past an opponent and curl a low shot past the ‘keeper and inside the far post from the edge of the area.

On 11 minutes a buoyant Comrades threatened a second goal. The dynamic Liam Hassin won the ball deep in Ards territory and then a played one two with Michael Morgan which allowed his to advance into the box, but stretching to get a shot away he found the side-netting. A minute later Ards had a good opportunity to get a quick equaliser. Newell got on the end of a cross played into the box, but from a great position he headed over the bar.

In the 17th minute the visitors stunned their opponents with a second goal. Good pressing saw the ball turned over in the Ards half from where it was played to Marcus Murphy inside the box. He then had the composure to square the ball across the goal to where Brian Healy was waiting to fire home from five yards out.

Ten minutes later the hosts reduced the deficit. Comrades conceded a free kick just outside the box as Newell surged up the right and was brought down by Lee McCune. Maxwell stepped up to take the set-piece and drove the ball hard and low on goal. Gerard Walker was able to block the effort, but the ball rebounded out kindly to Steele who slotted it in from close range.

Ards now pressed for a leveller. They had a good chance in the 38th minute when a corner played to the back post found the head of Hunter, but he hit the side-netting.

A minute passed and Stephen Small’s men restored a two-goal advantage. Liam Hassin again won the ball in a dangerous area and surged into the box before playing it low across the six-yard box where Healy was once more the man on the spot to finish from close range.

Three minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half Comrades were grateful to their ‘keeper for preserving their two-goal lead. Maxwell struck a superb free kick from 25 yards which looked bound for the top corner, but Gerard Walker produced a top class save to turn the ball over.

The start of the second half saw Ards press strongly, with Comrades having to defend resolutely including against a series of corners. A combination of good defending from the visitors and poor decision making by the home side meant that the score stayed the same.

Gradually then Comrades began to be able to venture forward again. On 67 minutes Brian Healy, with no other options available to him, tried a trademark spectacular long-range effort from the centre-circle, but this time the ball went just over the bar with the ‘keeper struggling.

Then, in the 69th minute, the visitors really should have put the result beyond doubt. A quick break forward saw substitute Caolán Donnelly outstrip the home defence and get into the box, where instead of shooting he chose to pass the ball across the box to Brian Healy who was completely unmarked. However, the hat-trick seeking striker took his eye off the ball and allowed it to slip under his foot and the chance was gone.

On 72 minutes Ards came close to getting a goal back. A corner was met by the head of McCart and his effort deflected off a defender and onto the bar.

Comrades had another chance to seal the result in the 78th minute when a lovely flick from Michael Morgan set Brian Healy free of the Ards defence, but ‘keeper Matthews was able to block his resulting effort at the near post.

Ards fluffed a chance to make it a nervous finish to the game for Comrades when they spurned a big chance on 87 minutes. A free kick was launched into the box, finding Maxwell free five yards from goal, but he blasted his first-time shot over the bar.

This was the last threat from the home side and Comrades were able to see out the remaining minutes sedately to secure the three points.