Comrades let a three-goal lead slip to exit the County Antrim Shield against Ards.

The visitors started strongly and dominated the early stages. However, Comrades did manage to test the Ards keeper in the eighth minute when Rhys McGarry laid the ball off to Dylan O’Kane who shot from inside the box, forcing a save from Taylor.

Less than a minute later Ards opened the scoring. An incisive move cut open the home defence allowing the ball to be played to the near post to Browne who swept it home first-time.
Out of the blue, Comrades grabbed an equaliser on 15 minutes. A dangerous ball was only cleared out to Rhys McGarry on the edge of the box, and he fired a beautifully controlled shot through a crowd and into the net.

The hosts now had their tails up and took the lead with a great goal on 22 minutes. Liam Toman was set free to race up the right wing before delivering a perfect ball into the six-yard box where Lewis Mearns arrived to apply the finish.

Ards tested Lewis Deane in the 37th minute when Browne sent a curling shot towards goal, but the keeper was able to turn it wide.

The second half opened in explosive style with two goals for the home side inside the first five minutes.

On 47 minutes a corner played into the box by Liam Toman was only headed out to Lewis Mearns who struck it first-time into the net from 10 yards.

Three minutes later it was 4-1. A long kick out from Lewis Deane was latched onto by Lewis Mearns who outstripped the opposition defence before finishing confidently from inside the box.
Comrades were now in a commanding position, but naivety was to lead to them surrendering by the end of the match.

Ards pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when a ball played into the six-yard box from the left was knocked in by Browne.

This changed the momentum of the game. Suddenly Ards were dominating and Comrades struggled to hold onto the ball and were very open to opposition attacks.

All the pressure was towards the home goal. Eventually it told when on 78 minutes a free kick was played into the box where Wilson was unmarked to head powerfully past the keeper.

Two minutes later Ards were on level terms. Another dangerous ball played into the box, this time from the right was finished by O’Boyle from close range.

The visitors sealed a remarkable comeback in the 85th minute when Brammeld struck a wonder strike from 30 yards which hit the underside of the bar and dropped into the net.

Many thanks to match sponsor, Robert Bell and ball sponsor Ian Fleck Signs.