Olphert’s men easily see off Premiership champions

Well, Christmas came early for BBOB on Saturday when they came from behind to beat reigning champions Ardmore 4-1 in their own back yard.

A sizable crowd gathered at McCourts anticipating a real ding dong battle between the two sides widely expected to fight it out for this season’s league title.

However, the first half was a fairly flat affair.

Ardmore lost much of their creativity and flair when talisman Dee McGee Jnr hobbled off after just 10 minutes.

Despite that the home side took an unexpected lead through a 20 yard Colum Paul Robb drive which left BB goalkeeper Stephen Scroggie flat-footed, and nestled into the back of the net.

Only five minutes into the second half and the league leaders were level.

Joe McCready had been having a very quiet game but he was put through one on one with Collette, rounded him with ease and slotted the ball into the net.

Ardmore have their own hit man in Gareth Brown but he seemed to spend most of the first hour arguing with the referee and his team-mates rather than doing what he does best – scoring goals.

Brown finally sprung into life in the 60th minute, making a pacy 30 yard dribble before shooting straight into Scroggie’s welcoming arms.

BB took the lead for the first time in the game in the 66th minute when an inch-perfect Matthew Pierce corner found Gareth Smith unmarked in the Ardmore six yard box.

The ex-Institute defender gave Collette no chance and headed the ball home, putting his side 2-1 up.

Ardmore’s manager Dee McGee decided to bring Gary Collett off the field and replaced him with Anthony Hargan in goal in the 70th minute.

Hargan could only watch a short time later when McCready cut inside his marker and curled a shot from just outside the box which crashed off the crossbar.

The major talking point in the game occurred in the 72nd minute.

Niall Murray swiped a kick at McCready as he dribbled past him with the ball.

As the defender had not actually made contact with the attacker referee Paul Quigley was only going to produce a yellow card for the ‘intent’.

However, the yellow quickly became a red for what the referee later confirmed was “a tirade” against an official.

By this stage Don Olphert’s men sensed blood and decided to go for the jugular.

Craig Young took possession of the ball a good 25 yards from goal and fired a rocket past the Hargin in goal, to give his side a 3-1 advantage.

The league leaders showed no mercy. Grant Garden joined the party in the 80th minute scoring his side’s fourth goal after a well-timed run and powerful shot past the hapless Hargan.

Hargan left the field with 10 minutes of the game still to play, leaving his side with only nine men left on the pitch.

Colum Paul Robb became Ardmore’s third goalkeeper of the afternoon for the last few minutes of the game and managed to not concede a goal.