Boyd frustrated by lack of action as ‘Straw bow out

DESPITE his team getting a first taste of competitive action this season, Ardstraw boss Nigel Boyd admits he remains frustrated.

Ardstraw opened the season with a 3-1 extra-time defeat to Dungiven in the quarter-final of the NI Challenge Cup and that means that his team won’t play again until the new year.

Boyd is struggling to comprehend why earlier in the year his players were allowed to train and play friendlies and not allowed to play competitive games.

“It’s hard to understand how we could train and play friendlies but competitive football was put on hold for so long,” he said.

“It’s just been frustrating, although we were delighted to get back [on Saturday] despite the result.”

A win last weekend would have meant a semi-final tie this Saturday, instead the loss means they will not return to competitive football until January 2 at the earliest in the Craig Memorial Cup.

That said Boyd intends to pencil in a few friendlies over the festive period to ensure his players are fit and focused for whatever challenges the new year brings.

“We have had a lot of requests from other clubs to get games, I had Harry (McConkey) ringing and I am sure Dergview would want a game too but I have to say it has been a disappointing season so far, a tough year as far as football is concerned,” he explained.

FULL STORY IN THURSDAY’S STRABANE CHRONICLE