Nixon remaining optimistic after draw leaves Ards adrift at bottom
COLIN Nixon is confident that he can turn Ards’ disappointing season around.
On Saturday the Red and Blues drew 1-1 with Warrenpoint Town in Bangor with Michael McLellan and Eamon Scannell exchanging goals at the start of the second half.
The result leaves Ards three points adrift at the bottom of the Danske Bank Premiership. After two top ten finishes in the last two seasons, a relegation battle certainly wasn’t in the script for Nixon.
He said: “We are working incredibly hard to change our fortune. I think everyone can see how hard the players are working, while I am working hard behind the scenes to bring in some new faces for January.
“On Saturday, we looked very nervy at times. We have a really young side and these sorts of relegation battles are difficult.
“We want to get on the ball and play well, but it’s difficult when you’re scrapping for everything like we are.
“At times on Saturday we did that, but they also had periods where they were on top and they dominated possession.”
He added: “Holding the lead for less than a minute maybe tells you something about our confidence levels.”
“We battered them. We absolutely battered them. We should have won at least 4-1 with the chances we missed,” fumed Warrenpoint boss Stephen McDonnell.
“I don’t want to be a manager happy to settle for just staying in the division. We have got to change the mentality at this club.
“I want push towards the middle of the table, maybe even top six. We can’t do that if we settle for draws.”
ARDS: Johnston, Kerr, Byers, McAleenan, McClean, Frazer (E McAllister, 74 mins), J Kelly (Cherry, 60 mins), Tommons, Nelson, D McAllister, McLellan (Strain, 78 mins). Unused subs: Mooney, Mitchell, McArthur. WARRENPOINT: McCarey, Foster, Hughes (Norton, 75 mins), McGrandles, Wallace, McCaffrey, O’Connor, M Lynch, Scannell, Donnelly, O’Sullivan. Unused subs: Tucker, Kelly, Griffin, J Lynch, Watters
Referee: Andrew Davey (Bangor)
Man of the match: Eamon Scannell
Match rating: 6/10