Ards foray into the County Antrim Shield was ultimately a short one as a goal from old-boy Marty Hunter in the first half set Larne on their way to victory.

That strike came very much against the run of play, with Ards dominating the opening forty-five minutes but failing to convert their numerous chances. Larne on the other hand looked sharp around goal when the opportunity presented itself and their two further strikes in the second half were a testament to that.

Just the one change to the starting line-up for Ards with Justy McBride tried on the left side of midfield in place of Johnny Roy. Craig McMillen therefore given a chance to show his capability on the right flank.

A healthy travelling support saw Ards enjoy much of the possession in the opening twenty minutes. Craig McMillen and Aaron McKee pulled the strings for Ards in midfield and Ricky Billing worked tirelessly up front. The first early chance for Ards fell to Darren Stirling, who raced onto a through ball and just got in ahead of a Larne defender before lobbing a shot just over the bar.

Ards were then stunned on 21 minutes when Larne went in front. A needless free kick conceded by Wilson 30 yards out was delivered onto the head of Hunter, whom no-one had picked up, and he had the easy job of heading home. Just where was the Ards marking though? The visitors kept to their game plan however and kept good possession, restricting Larne to that one chance.

Craig McMillen might have levelled on 32 minutes but keeper Chris Keenan was equal to the shot and then Ricky Billing saw his header cleared off the line from a follow-up corner. Ards' Andy McDonald was spared on 35 minutes when Gary Spence was on hand to scoop a shot off the line that had squeezed through the keeper's legs.

On 40 minutes the match should have been levelled by Billing. He latched onto a short pass through the middle and tussled well with a defender, who did just enough to influence the final shot, and big Billing saw his effort roll inches wide of the far upright.

Larne's second strike on 56 minutes was a killer blow for Ards, though the splendid finish was justice enough to seal any game. Anto Lagan supplied the cross from the right hand side which was half cleared by Ards to the edge of the box where Marty Verner met the ball first time and his dipping volley flew superbly into the far corner of the net.

The inventiveness that Ards had shown in the first half was now absent and they struggled to break down the Larne back four. Stirling got in behind on a couple of occasions but failed to find the target and Larne played a decent tactic of hit on the break.

Ards blooded all three subs in the later portion of the game, including Glen Bowers for his debut, but it was another sub Darren Kincaid, who came closest to scoring when his 20 yard outside of the foot shot flew over the crossbar.

Larne completed the scoring with a minute to run when Aaron Black latched onto a ball down the middle before lobbing the stranded goalkeeper from the edge of the area. 3-0 it finished but Ards far from disgraced and indeed unfortunate not to have scored.

Team	Substitutes
1 Andy McDonald (GK)	12 Glen Bowers (for Cleary 79)
2 Darren Nixon	14 Johnny Roy (for McBride 63)
3 Johnny Cleary	15 Ryan Newberry
4 Gary Spence	16 Darren Kincaid (for McMillen 75)
5 James Wilson	17 David Cully
6 Johnny Shaw
7 Craig McMillen	Referee Stephen Weatherall
8 Justin McBride
9 Darren Stirling
10 Aaron McKee
11 Ricky Billing

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