Drumaness Mills too hot to handle for Ards Rangers
The NAFL Premier League,
Venue: Meadowvale, Tuesday 16th April 2024,
Final score: Drumaness Mills 6 1 Ards Rangers.
Ards Rangers received a roasting from Drumaness Mills in the NAFL Premier League clash at Meadowvale.
As the season is quickly hurtling to an end, it was Ards Rangers who were in more need of the points, but try as they did, Drumaness were too slick on the night for them writes Jim Masson.
Joe Healy put Drumaness ahead in just 2 minutes before Ards could settle and 4 minutes later Jamie Sharvin rattled the ball into the Ards net from inside the box from a pass through.
Then it was Jack Sharvin’s turn to get on the scoresheet when Jamie played the ball through on 15 minutes to him and he clinically hammered it into the net.
Ards Rangers had no answer to the Mills onslaught and Eoin Rooney added another two goals to the tally in the first half, the first in the 24th minute.
Drumaness seemed to have a free run most of the first half through the midfield and took ample advantage. Jack Sharvin took a free kick and sent it to Thomas McNeill who ran to the Ards goal but eventually lost possession.
Drumaness were relentless, and Eoin Murray found space to lash a solid volley but it sailed over the top bar.
Eventually Ards Rangers rallied and started to press into the Drumaness half trying to salvage something from the game. Matthew Lee crossed well to Nathan McVeigh but the shot went wide.
Then McVeigh missed a chance of a goal close in. Ards were fighting back but Drumaness applied pressure again when Adam Kearney on the left wing made a great cross to Jack Sharvin who was eventually bundled off the ball.
Jack Sharvin then took a free kick and the ball came off a defender close to the goal and the eagle-eyed Eoin Rooney spotted it and knocked it into the Ards Rangers goal for Drumaness’ fourth goal on the 44th minute before half-time.
In the second half, Drumaness came out stronger and did make an effort to amend the scoreline, but Drumaness were too organised for them and their attacks mostly faltered.
Adam Kearney playing his usual attacking game scored close in on the 51st minute bringing the total to six up for Drumaness.
But both side swere making substitutions as a couple of yellow cards were dished out and by the 76 minute, Ards’ defender James Patterson received his second yellow then a red card as did defender Jason Walls in the 82nd minute.
The game had become quite physical as frustration developed in the Ards ranks.
But Ards did apply some oressure in attacks in the second half and won a penalty in the 66th minute taken by James Sofley.
Overall Jack Sharvin and Adam Kearney kept up the attacks up front for Drumaness making any sort of a comeback for Ards an impossibility.
Jamie Sharvin did get another crack at the Ards goal but his volley on target struck a defender.
A late opportunity for Ards came when sub Aaron Dunlop tried to head to the Drumaness net but keeper Connor McGourty who had an easy game managed to hold it well.
This was a strong performance from Drumaness Mills who used their subs well minimising the risk of player injury as they look forward to the semi-final of the Clarence Maynes Cup against local rivals Kilmore Rec at Seaview on Saturday 18th May at 4pm.
And that match will be a cracker!
Drumaness Mills: 1 Connor McGourty (GK) 2 Rory Deegan 3 Thomas McNeill 4 Daniel Bell 5 Joe Healy 6 Eoin Murray 7 Eoin Rooney 8 Jamie Sharvin 10 Jack Sharvin 11 Adam Kearney 17 Peter Brannigan. Subs: 12 Ryan Kidd 14 Gary Murdock 15 Aaron Ibinson.
Ards Rangers: 1 Rhys Lawson (GK) 2 Jason Walls 3 Harry McIlwrath 4 James Patterson 5 Lewis Roy (C) 6 Nathan McVeigh 7 Dwaine Beattie 8 Matthew Lee 9 Kyle Mackie 10 James Sofley 16 Michael Hunter. Subs: 12 Josh Tipping 14 Curtis kenny 15 Aaron Dunlop.
