Slack ’Stute progress

To be fair to the Waterside men they dominated the entire game, apart from the final six minutes, which nearly saw Rangers complete the most unlikely of come-backs.

Trailing 3-0 and with 84 minutes on the clock, the visitors netted twice and had two really good chances in stoppage time to take the quarter-final tie into extra-time.

The home side broke the deadlock when Dean Jarvis’ corner was headed home by John Curran despite Mark Drysdale’s best attempts on the line to keep the ball out.

Soon after Darren Stirling missed a golden opportunity when with only ’Stute keeper Marty Gallagher to beat, he headed wide from close range.

The Drumahoe club doubled their advantage when Graeme Taylor’s throw into the box was flicked on by Darren McCauley and Stephen Parkhouse showed great strength before turning his marker and firing home past Rangers keeper Dean Price.

Just after the hour mark man of the match Joe McCready scored what many people at the Riverside Stadium felt would have been the final goal of the day.

A Taylor free-kick somehow found the striker on the edge of the box and he produced a stunning finish, volleying high over Price’s head and into the roof of the net.

Shortly after McCready was in the thick of the action again, this time his acrobatic over-head kick from close range was superbly pushed over by Price.

Just as ’Stute looked to be cruising to victory, the visitors pulled one back in outstanding fashion when midfielder Craig Campbell unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard dipping drive past a flat-footed Gallagher.

Then a minute later Gallagher collided with Ricky Barr inside the area and referee Stephen Wallace pointed to the spot, from which Ryan Newberry made no mistake side footing home.

Incredibly Barr had a golden chance to level things in stoppage time, but his close range shot, after ’Stute failed to clear their lines, was superbly kept out by Gallagher.

Then right at the death a high ball into the ’Stute box found an unmarked Johnny Roy, but with only Gallagher to beat, he failed to hit the target and headed over.

Institute: Gallagher, Crown, McLaughlin, Curran, Taylor; Semple, McCruddden, McCauley, Jarvis; Parkhouse, McCready. Subs: Walsh & Harkin for Semple & Jarvis (72); McEneff for McCready (79).

Ards Rangers: Price, Kerr, Roy, Drysdale, Watson, Stewart, Campbell, Newderry, Stirling, Hislop, Rees. Subs: Barr for Hislop (53); Patterson for Stewart (59).

Referee: Mr Stephen Wallace (Londonderry).