Ards produced a terrific second half performance at The Showgrounds on Saturday to put their Premier opponents in the shade and almost nick a famous Irish Cup win.

Ballymena will be thankful for the heroics of their goalkeeper Sean O'Neill, who ensured his side would still be in the cup by 4.45pm with a string of top saves. This 5th round match was the first in a month for both sides and the lack of match practice was clear - for Ards it was evident in a string of misplaced passes, while Ballymena's finishing around goal was often suspect.

The home side were still the better outfit in the first half though, looking much sharper than their Championship opponents. Their first chance of the game came after just a minute, when a foul by Ards' Gary Spence presented United with a free kick 25 yards out, but Gary Haveron's kick flew over the bar.

On 16 minutes a good Ards move in midfield saw James Wright play the ball forward to Paul Dickson. He found Darren Stirling on the right of the area, and though the forward turned his man well, the attempted pass for Darren Fitzgerald was over-hit. Two minutes later and Ballymena created a good opening at the other end and keeper Andy McDonald had to be sharp to stop a low shot from Kevin Kelbie on his goal-line.

Aaron McKee put in a low shot on 28 minutes that was little trouble for O'Neill in goal, and shortly after Fitzgerald smacked in a shot from the edge of the box that the keeper also gathered. Ards looked nervous in defence at times, presenting too much of a open path to goal - something enjoyed by Haveron on 34 minutes, when he ran through to thump a shot off McDonald's chest.

The best chance for Ards in the first period came with just seconds to play. A run out of defence from David Cully saw him into the top right corner of the field and he crossed to the edge of the box for Stirling. The Ards forward took the ball down nicely on the chest and hit a shot on the turn that didn't beat the crossbar by too much.

As the second half began, it was Ards who pressured first. A 50th minute move involving Dickson and Cully saw the ball into the Ballymena area and across to Craig McMillen, whose low, threaded shot was turned wide of the far upright by O'Neill. Ards tried again  on 57 minutes when a Pike throw-in found McMillen and his cross from the left was only partially cleared. Darren Stirling collected the ball on the edge of the box and his shot through a crowd of players was well stopped by the goalkeeper.

James Wright - enjoyed a late chance

On the hour a break along the left side saw Cushley receive the ball and turn an Ards defender in the box. His short ball across the area had too much weight on it for Kelbie though and Ards breathed again. United's Darren Lockhart rolled a shot wide of the Ards goal on 71 minutes and a couple of minutes later a good Ballymena break ended disappointingly when Nathan McConnell fired straight at McDonald.

Ards went closest yet to breaking the deadlock on 74 minutes when a 30 yard free kick from Wright found the head of David Cully in the box and he was denied by a brilliant O'Neill block with his feet. Ballymena hit back soon after with a terrific blocking tackle from Darren Nixon required to stop Michael Smith's run, while Kelbie fired over the top with the follow-up.

Into the last ten minutes and the action showed no signs of letting up as Andy McDonald palmed over an edge of the box shot from Carson. At the other end a pass from Fitzgerald sent Stirling into the United box and his low shot was put away by O'Neill for the corner.

Then with three minutes to go, Ards had the chance of the match. With the action up in Ballymena's corner, a short Fitzgerald pass laid the ball off for McMillen. His in-swinging cross was met by the in-rushing James Wright, who seemed to have the goal at his mercy, but he headed past the near upright.

So no goals, and no victor as yet, but will Ards make the most of their second chance in Tuesday's replay at The Showgrounds?

VIDEO Match highlights via SkyBlue TV

AUDIO Tommy Kincaid comments via Radio Ulster (interview is at 3:21.12)

- AMIGO UPDATE

52 goals - £26.00

1 Andy McDonald (c)
14 David Cully	2 Darren Nixon	4 Gary Spence	3 Kris Pike
8 Paul Dickson	11 Aaron McKee	16 James Wright	7 Craig McMillen
9 Darren Stirling		10 Darren Fitzgerald

	12 Stephen Doyle (for Stirling 90+1), 13 Lee Rutherford, 18 Thomas Gorman, 19 James Wilson
	Mark Courtney

16th January 2010