Strangford FC faced tough challenge from Ardglass seasiders
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League. League Match at The Links, Strangford. Saturday 7th January 2023. Strangford FC 0 3 Ardglass FC.
Ardglass made the short trip to Strangford for this league encounter played in bright sunshine at The Links writes Cyril McKinney.
Within a minute of the first whistle Ardglass took the lead when a superb right wing cross from Crangle found Deegan at the back post and he slammed the ball home past the helpless Holland in the home nets.
Strangford began to settle into the game and enjoyed more of the possession without creating any clearcut chances.
It was Ardglass that had further chances as the first half progressed. On 21 minutes a McMenamin left wing free kick found Cusack in front of goal but from 6 yards he blazed his volley high and wide and then on 36 minutes another McMenamin left wing cross was converted by the in-rushing Deegan only for the referee to rule it out for offside.
However, two minutes later some individual magic from McDarby on the left wing saw Ardglass go further ahead before halftime.
Set free by a McMenamin through ball down the left flank McDarby turned his man this way and then the other way before unleashing a thunderous left foot shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Into the second half and with both sides enjoying possession, but it was Ardglass that created the more scoring opportunities.
Deegan was wide from the edge of the box on 58 minutes and on 61 minutes substitute Curran blazed over from 18 yards as he cut in from the right wing.
On 64 minutes the referee awarded a controversial penalty for handball in the area following a corner. When things calmed down after a number of bookings for the home side Deegan converted the penalty to give Ardglass a 3-0 advantage.
Strangford to their credit kept up the offensive and created a couple of half chances on 77 minutes when Mahoney headed wide at the back post from a great right wing cross from substitute Savage and again on 87 minutes when Cultra was wide of the mark sliding it to meet a cross-field ball.
Overall Ardglass were good value for this win with a solid defence, and a battling midfield. Rooney was outstanding, and the physical presence of Magee up front who never stopped throughout also gave Ardglass the edge.
And players of great talent such as McDarby who showed his class also played their part. Strangford showed plenty of battling spirit and had notable performances from their backline with Reilly in the middle of the park and Mahoney and Fitzsimons in the forward line who battled hard all afternoon.
Currently Ardglass FC lead the Premier table with 30 points, but Killough has 22 points with 4 games to play and Celtic Bhoys has 21 points also with 4 hames to play. Ballynagross are trailing but will undoubtably be in the top tier somewhere by the end of the season as the top 4 teams tussle for the league title.
Strangford FC: G Holland, S McGrattan, C Magee, T Fitzsimons, F McFall, S Taggart, O Curran, R Reilly, C Fitzsimons, J Mahoney, E King. Subs: E Watterson , S Savage for E King, S Cultra for O Curran.
Ardglass FC: J Crangle, M Crangle, B McMenamin, J Deegans, C O’Shea, M Rooney, S Deegan, M Magee, J McDarby, J Beattie, J Cusack. Subs: A Watson for B McMenamin, R McEvoy, O Curran for J Beattie.
