Ards defeat ‘a step back’ for United, says Thompson

Gary Thompson in action for Ballymena United in Friday night's Danske Bank Premiership defeat by Ards. Picture: Press Eye.

The Sky Blues suffered a surprise 2-0 setback at Dixon Park as Ards celebrated their first points since their return to the top flight.

“We were really disappointed with the result and the performance - it wasn’t good enough,” midfielder Thompson told Times Sport.

“I think we started off rightly and controlled the game for the first half hour but the goal seemed to give Ards something to cling onto and to be fair, I don’t think we came out in the second half and they deserved the three points.

“The tempo of Ards’ play, especially in the second half, was much better than ours.

“I don’t think we got to the ball quick enough and we didn’t win second balls.

“It’s a disappointing start to the season overall for us. We have given ourselves opportunities and not taken them.

“We’ve clawed it back after the opening day defeat by Glenavon with two wins and then we haven’t showed up against Ards.

“It’s definitely a step back for us - it was all there for us and we didn’t take it.

“We have a tough run of games coming up in September but we proved at Seaview we can take points off the top sides so hopefully we can take some points from a challenging run of games.”

On a personal level, Thompson hopes to contribute more to United’s goal tally.

He started off like a house on fire last season and had netted five goals by mid-October but he remained on that figure until the end of the season as his own form, in tandem with that of the team, dipped.

“The goals dried up for me last season so I’m keen to do better this year.

“I got one against Glenavon on the first day of this season which didn’t really count for a lot given the result and I missed a few chances against Ballymoney.

“My own form has been up and down.

“I thought I did rightly against Dungannon but my performance against Ards was average enough, if I’m honest.

“The midfielders and strikers need to score more goals if we’re going to get up into the top six and I want to contribute to that.

“Ten goals would be lovely but with not scoring so many last season, getting a few this year to get me going would be great,” added Thompson.