Ards ease relegation fears with hard-fought victory

Ards 4-1 Dungannon Swifts

Ards eased any lingering relegation fears with a hard fought 4-1 victory over Dungannon Swifts at the Bangor Fuels Arena.

Michael Ruddy put Colin Nixon’s side in front in the 14th-minute from the penalty spot after Dungannon goalkeeper Andy Coleman fouled Matthew Shevlin.

The same player doubled the lead eight minutes later when he seized on Guillaume Keke’s saved effort to score from a couple of yards out.

Dungannon pulled one back on the half hour when Chris Hegarty headed home Jarlath O’Rourke’s cross.

Shevlin, on loan from Ballymena United, restored Ards two goal advantage midway through the first-half when he ran through the Dungannon defence to score.

Keke scored Ards fourth collecting a right wing cross from Shevlin before firing home a composed finish.