A second half Darren Stirling hat-trick put Ards into the draw for the third round of the Steel & Sons Cup and helped make it four wins from four for his side.

The second Ards goal on 58 minutes, the first of Stirling's three, ultimately did the damage, ending any hopes Dunmurry had of a comeback. Tommy Kincaid employed Johnny Roy on the right side for the first time this season and there was also a recall to the starting eleven for the impressive Johnny Shaw.

The first half lacked tempo throughout with Ards enjoying by far the bulk of possession but failing to cut through the final line of defence. When progress was made, often the final act was lacking the killer touch like on 15 minutes when a Ricky Billing pass released Roy down the wing. His cross for Darren Stirling was enough to trouble the defence, who gifted the ball the the Ards marksman, only for the eventual shot to be hit hurriedly wide.

Host side Dunmurry provided an excellent venue for the game but contributed little to trouble Andy McDonald in the Ards goal. His one notable call into action was as late as 33 minutes when the Rec No.10 nipped in behind the Ards lines to head wide. Even then McDonald was merely a spectator.

With five minutes to half time, Ards livened the game up with the opening goal, created by Johnny Roy. His take down in midfield was followed up with a well weighted ball over the Dunmurry defence onto the foot of Craig McMillen and he took his time before slotting the ball low into the net.

The livewire McMillen almost got his name to a second goal on 47 minutes when he reacted quickest to lunge at a Stirling cross and chipped the ball just over the bar. A poor clearance by Spence two minutes after that put Ards under a degree of pressure and McDonald was at full stretch to push a fierce shot away for a corner.

A right wing free kick for Ards on 58 minutes found Stirling in the box and he muscled his way through to poke in the second goal. On 67 minutes what would have been a goal of the season contender saw the unstoppable McMillen weave his way inside and out of the Dunmurry defence prior to firing a low shot just past the far upright.

The 71st minute brought Ards' third goal and Stirling was the man on target again, stooping to head in Johnny Cleary's right-sided corner. The fourth and final goal followed on seventy-six when substitute Justin McBride played a quick through ball that left the Rec defence at a standstill. On ran Stirling and he calmly chipped over the goalkeeper from 25 yards to score the first Ards hat-trick since David Rainey in April 2005.

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