FOOTBALL: High-fliers Ardley suffer shock loss (From Bicester Advertiser)

FOOTBALL: High-fliers Ardley suffer shock loss

11:00am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Sport

Ardley United’s Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division hopes suffered a setback as they went down to a 3-0 defeat at Highmoor Ibis on Saturday.

Looking to avenge a home defeat by Highmoor earlier in the season, fourth-placed Ardley produced a poor display.

The visitors went a goal down on 38 minutes when Simon Eade fired home from an acute angle.

Ardley were grateful to keeper Joe White who made a double save from Mo Dav-ies on 58 minutes. But after 65 minutes, a loose pass saw Ian Griffin fire past White to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Ardley tried to get back in the game, but were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes when Dean Smith was sent off for a professional foul on Liam Ferdinand.

White then made a terrific save to keep out Ferdinand’s spot-kick.

But in the last minute, Ferd-inand sealed Ardley’s misery with Highmoor’s third goal.

On Saturday, Ardley travel to Oxfordshire rivals Shrivenham.