It took me an hour and a half to get from Meadowbank Sports Arena to Londonderry Park thanks to the M2 roadworks and then another 15 minutes trying to find somewhere to park so I only caught the second half of this crucial game in the EYHL relegation battle.

As I arrived, literally at the stroke of half time, Ards were leading 1 – 0 after an early goal from their talisman Zara Malseed.

Unfortunately, in the second half, Ards looked somewhat nervy and Monkstown looked energised and the visitors started to dominate territory and possession. Ards saw off a couple of penalty corners but they could do nothing with a cracking backhand from Sara Twomey on the 48th min which took the score to 1 – 1 mid way . . .