Niall Currie can be very proud of his players, who battled gamely for 86 minutes before succumbing to two goals from Premiership Cliftonville.

Ards matched their more senior opponents throughout an open first half and looked to have taken the lead on 52 minutes when Aaron McKee headed in a David Cully cross-shot, but he was flagged narrowly offside.

Craig McMillen was the only one of Ards' new signings to make the starting eleven - David Magee was on the bench though, while Joe Finlay missed the match because of a previous engagement. It was the visitors who enjoyed the better chances in the early part of the game with midfielder Sammy Devine playing a pass in for McMillen in the fourth minute and he drew a save from John Connolly. Cliftonville responded on 13 minutes with new signing Deaglan Bunting putting an attempted lob just wide of the Ards goal.

Ards' Ryan Berry then threatened the Reds' goal on two occasions, firstly seeing his shot from a Ross Arthurs knockdown blocked by a defender and then he stung the hands of keeper Connolly with an 18th minute free kick.

Craig McMillen takes on a Cliftonville defender Picture: Gareth McCluskey

Cliftonville's presence began to grow as the half progressed and a 32nd minute break saw the ball through to striker Joe Gormley and he bustled past Gary Spence to get in a shot that Graeme McKibbin saved at his right hand post. The home side came closer still to breaking the deadlock a minute from the break when some frantic play in the Ards area almost lead to a goal for George McMullan, but again McKibbin was on hand to prevent the score.

The second half began with the scores still level, which was easily what Ards deserved and then on 52 minutes, it looked like Niall Currie's team had taken the lead. Defender David Cully began a move in his own half that involved a one-two with Arthurs before Cully confidently drove for the Cliftonville goal. His well struck shot from inside the area just caught a Reds defender, deflecting the ball away from Connolly but right into the path of McKee, who stooped well to head in. The celebrations were short-lived though, as the assistant on the far raised a flag for offside.

Mark Picking then hit the side netting before Cliftonville's Dairmuid O'Carroll took advantage of a poor clearance from Kris Pike to drill in a low first time shot that ran just wide of the Ards goal. O'Carroll was then involved in Cliftonville's best move of the game on 57 minutes as he moved the ball between himself and Barry Holland before striking a well hit effort that McKibbin was at his best to turn away at the right side of his goal.

Ross Arthurs does well to hold off an opponent Picture: Gareth McCluskey

Ards then rang the changes, introducing Jimmy McIlhagga and debutante Magee, who looked to have won a clear penalty for his side on 80 minutes when he was bundled over the byeline, only for referee Mervyn Smyth to wave all claims away.

Ards' hearts were finally broken with 86 minutes gone when Cliftonville took the lead. The impressive Barry Johnston supplied the assist, crossing from the right to find the head of defender Mark Clarke, who turned a header into the roof of the Ards net. With heads down in the Ards defence, disaster struck just a minute later when a long kick out by Connolly was missed by all in the back line leaving substitute Stephen Garrett with a clean run to goal and he finished well after rounding McKibbin.

So no disgrace for Ards this time around, but it's Cliftonville who move on in the Irish Cup.

14th January 2012

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