Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Linfield 1st with 77 points, Ards 2nd with 8, 69 apart. Ards's recent output lagged their position: 20th on form over five rounds while 2nd in the table. Against a league average of 1.53 goals per team per game, Ards ran at 0.8 scored and 1 conceded, Linfield at 2.12 and 0.64.
Linfield had won three straight. The five-game form split read 6/15 points for Ards against 12/15 for Linfield.
Bangor Fuels Arena, capacity 2,000, hosted the game. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 0-2.
Goal scorers
Linfield: J. Callacher (58'), J. Callacher (75')
Key stats
Possession: Ards 49% · Linfield 51% · Total shots: 5-17 · On target: 1-4 · Corners: 3-10