LISBURN JUNIOR INVITATIONAL LEAGUE UNDER 17
Venue Ballymacoss

The boys travelled to Ballymacross for their first game of the new year to take on Glenavon.  The game started brightly with both teams attacking with great vigor.  Ards took the lead following good work from Lowry who played an incisive through ball to leading scorer Cochrane who finished with great aplomb.  Glenavon battled back and equalised with a good finish from the edge of the box. An even first half ended all square thanks to a great save from Wallace in the Ards goal.

The second half began brightly and Ards quickly restored their lead with good work from Patmore as he expertly finished at the near post after the keeper parried his first effort.   The boys began to tire and the management team made 5 changes to freshen things up.  Ards who had been driven forward for most of the game by the midfield duo of Sullivan and Fletcher ended the game strongly.  Following the substitution of the impressive Cochrane, Hanna carried on the good work up front and was unlucky not to add to scoreline on a couple of occasions.  The scoring was completed by Keenan who added the third with his first touch of the ball finishing nicely from an acute angle following a great cross field ball from Stephenson to Hanna whose initial effort was turned away by the Glenavon keeper.

An impressive performance by all 16 players who took part in the game but a special mention must go to Sullivan who controlled the midfield and Cochrane whose tireless running created havoc all morning.

Team: Wallace, McGratten, Bell, Neville, Carberry, Sullivan, Fletcher, Lowry, Patmore, Mullen, Cochrane.

Subs: Cunningham, Kennan, Stephenson, Hanna, Gordon.

Scorers: Cochrane, Patmore, Keenan.