Co.Antrim Shield S-Final

Wednesday 12th January

Glentoran 4 Ards 1

Football: Glens in late, late bonanza
Courage fails to shield gallant Ards

Report taken from Belfast Telegraph @ www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Glentoran: 4
test
Ards: 1
test
ARDS manager Trevor Anderson's verdict after this Calor Co Antrim Shield semi-final defeat by Glentoran at Seaview was spot on - the difference in standard between Premiership and First Division football is vast.
Ards, trailing 2-1, had a brief second half spell when they might have snatched an equaliser or forced extra time and the introduction of the golden goal but overall they didn't measure up. Yet, Glentoran left it late to kill them off.
test
Ards were under a handicap too. John Kerr, diminutive Scottish forward and sixth minute goal scorer, was ordered off in the 38th minute for what referee Alan Snoddy described as foul and abusive language.
test
"Once that third goal went in the contest was over," said Glentoran boss Roy Coyle.
test
"We won the last final of the millennium, the Gold Cup, and I'm delighted to be in the first one of the new millennium."Ards are battling it out with Omagh for the First Division title but obviously if promoted then strengthening would be required.
test
"Yes, this game illustrated the class difference," admitted Anderson. "We might perhaps have pushed them into extra time but Glentoran possessed more pace throughout and this obviously told a tale at the end of the day."Ards, whose black numbers on their shirts made identification for spectators extremely difficult, had a dream start with Kerr's goal - an edge-of-the-box volley from John Bailie's cross.
test
Within four minutes, however, Glentoran equalised, Stuart Elliott's left-footed effort from winger Tim McCann's deep centre flashing past Stephen Henderson.
test
Then came the saga of missed chances pinpointed by Coyle. Rory Hamill's chip was headed off the line by Paul Cullen; Peter Batey clipped another above the bar and Henderson produced a magnificent one-handed save from Hamill.
test
After 37 minutes Scott Young, an influential mid-fielder, went past Andy Beattie and his through ball found McCann who ran it into the net.
test
Glentoran created more chances in the second half although Feeney gave them a fright with a header which Alan Gough pushed away otherwise the scoreline twould have read 2-2.
test
Ards, who maintained their shape and discipline despite being reduced to 10 men conceded a third goal.
test
Glentoran substitute David Rainey flicked a pass for Young to do the needful and on the whistle Ian Gilzean scored the fourth for a victory which took a long time to achieve.
test
Glentoran: Gough, Nixon, Kennedy, Leeman, McCombe, Scott Young, McCann, Hamill (sub Rainey 80), Gilzean, Batey, Elliott. Subs not used: Livingstone, Ferguson.
test
Ards: Henderson, Bailie, Beggs, Stephen Young, Cullen, Feeney, Beattie, McGrath, (sub McNamara 35), Shiels, Kerr, Cleland. Subs not used: Reid, McQuillan.
test
Referee: Alan Snoddy (Carryduff).

 

 

1