Ards 2
Ballymena 0
City Cup

Match Report

Ballymena's defeat by Ards at the latters' ground last Saturday was an unpleasant morsel of news for the supporters of the Light Blues.

It was the second time this season Ballymena went under to the County Down team, the previous occasion being Christmas Day, when Ards so unexpectedly won by three goals to one at the Showgrounds.

The match was anything but a brilliant affair. Ballymena had any amount of scoring chances, but lack of shooting power robbed them of goals. They shared a good deal of the play, the backs standing on the half-way line for considerable periods, but the forwards just lacked the finishing punch which is so necessary.

Shiels kicked off against the wind and with Ards facing the sun. Gough held a high shot from his namesake on the home left, while McGee sent very wide from a cross by the home outside right. Burns ran through the opposition and sent in a fine shot which Gough caught, threw over McGee's head, regained possession and cleared. Overcrowding spoiled Ards, but Ballymena quickly reversed and Cassidy struck the crossbar.

Ballymena came more into the picture and, from a cross by Dalrymple, Shiels headed in, McMullan tipping over the bar. Reid sent wide from a free, and a poor clearance by Turnbull let Dalrymple away and he got the ball well to the centre, where Shiels ran through, but missed badly.

The visitors palyed neater football, but the home defence was good. From a corner Burns hooked just past the upright, and the visitors' goalie saved a bouncing ball from W. Gough. Adams stopped Murphy and the ball went to midfield, but after 20 minutes Ards took the lead, William Wishart scoring a nice goal from R. Gough's centre.

Ballymena restarted with great life, and after Shiels had sent past, Barrett charged down a great rush by Cassidy. For a few minutes Ards were kept on the defensive, with McNinch and McDiarmid standing on the half-way line. The latter gave R. Gough a nasty knock which necessitated the Ards player receiving attention, while Barrett and Cassidy afterwards came into collision, the Ards man having to be removed to the line to have an injury to his eye attended. Just before half-time Barrett resumed.

When the game was resumed Barrett, who had a lump on his eye the size of an egg, went inside-left and Garrett at he back. McGee put over the bar in the first minute and was injured, and had to go to outside right, and was practically useless for the remainder of the match.

Ballymena got to the other end, where Vance cleared. Dalrymple failed to gather a cross from Murphy, and the ball rolled behind. Play became scrappy, but a sudden revival by Ards saw Gough having difficulty in clearing with the home inside forwards in close attendance.

Burns cleared from Murphy, and play went to the other end, where weak finishing spoiled a good scoring chance. Ballymena then had an innings, but Ards came back and the visitors' goal had several escapes following a corner. W. Gough finally putting behind. Ballymena next attacked and Bassnett put over, while at the other end Turnbull sent behind.

McMullan saved from Howard. Ballymena kept up the pressure, but Vance and Garrett played a fine defensive game, and suddenly Robert Gough picked from Barrett, and when tackled he gave to his brother, who, as the Ballymena 'keeper advanced, shot into the empty net six minutes from the end. Ballymena had three corners, which were all cleared.

Match report written by Ballymena Observer (11 April 1930)