Waide is spot on for Islandmagee
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
ARDS RANGERS 3. ISLANDMAGEE (AET) 4.
ISLANDMAGEE needed extra time, and three Andy Waide penalties to see off the brave challenge of 1A side Ards Rangers in this Irish Cup tie at Drome Park.
Oddly enough, there was another high scoring encounter on the Islanders' last trip, when they lost 5-6 in the league back in May.
It was the travelling Wilbourners who posed the early questions, with Billy Waide breezing through but was forced too wide after rounding the keeper, and thus could only drag his shot against the post.
The home netminder, too, pulled off fine saves to thwart Andy Waide and Michael Moore.
Instead, though, it was Ards who showed the way, taking the lead on 35 minutes through a far post finish, with the visitors' offside appeals failing to impress the referee.
So one-nil down then, despite dominating the opening half, though the boot was on the other foot just after the turnaround, where two fine saves from David Harrison prevented Ards strengthening their grip.
Even Harrison, however, could do nothing as Rangers extended their lead on the hour, their striker doing the needful, after Millar had beaten Stephen Tierney in the challenge.
Island manager Steven Donald's response was to toss on all three substitutes Neil McConnell, Paul Gibb and Ryan Large, at the expense of Thomas Craig, Dee Lough and Simon Moffett., going three at the back.
The Wilbourners thus piled on the pressure, but were making hard work of things, with Andy Phillips nodding an Andy Waide corner against the bar. Then within another two minutes, two more headers from Phillips sailed just over the bar.
It was very much on the cards then when Islandmagee pegged a goal back on 70 minutes; Michael Moore scoring at the second time of asking, after being put through nicely by Andy Waide.
The Islanders, too, forced the tie into extra time on 85 minutes, with Andy Waide scoring from the spot, after Moore had been sent flying whilst trying to round the keeper.
The pendulum seemed to be swinging the Islanders' way only for Ards to again snatch the lead in the first period of extra time.
Just one minute later, however, Islandmagee were level again, with Andy Waide converting his second penalty after a handling offence on the line, for which he Ards player was red carded.
That sparked off a little melee in which Billy Waide and another Ards player were dispatched to the pavilion. Midway through the second session, Islandmagee edged in front for the first time, with Waide completing a penalty hat trick, for another foul on Moore.
A rare feat, three penalties in one game, although some might remember current Newington Rangers manager Stuart Pike completing a hat trick of penalties in a derby tussle at home to Islandmagee in which Islanders Jim Holden, Steven Gilmore and then manager Graham McConnell were sent off by referee Davy Redfern.
Next Saturday, it's back to Wilbourne Park for a tasty Intermediate Cup derby against Wellington Rec; the sides having already met this season at Brookvale Park, where the Millbrookers were 4-1 winners back in August.
Islandmagee; Harrison - Craig (N McConnell), Tierney, Phillips, Lough (Large) - B Waide, Moffett (Gibb), Moore, A Waide - Marks, Murray.
