After a string of disappointing results, Ards looked to bounce back during this County Antrim Shield clash against Queens, with Manager Warren Feeney naming a strong side.
The home side were the first to pressurise when a dangerous ball from David McAllister found new signing Ben Cushnie but his volley was wide of the right hand post.
Then Kym Nelson’s freekick couldn’t be headed home by captain Johnny Taylor in the tenth minute. In the twenty second minute Cushnie’s strike from the edge of the box was well saved by the Queens stopper.
In the twenty ninth minute the home side opened the scoring when Eamon McAllister’s corner was headed in by Craig McMillen. The half ended 1-0.
In the early stages of the second half Ards scored their second when McMillen found himself one on one with the keeper and coolly slid the ball into the back of the net,2-0.
Five minutes later Ards got their third when Eamon McAllister’s freekick was headed in by Cushnie to make it 3-0.
Goalscorer McMillen then set up captain Taylor who got his first goal of the season in the sixty eighth when his header found the back of the net.
Queens then had their best chance when familiar face Jonah Mitchell’s strike struck the bar in the seventy fifth minute.
However it was the home side that scored the next goal when lovely work from Man of The Match McMillen gave Calderwood a great opportunity. He made no mistake and made it 5-0, with the game ending shortly afterwards.
A great cup win for Ards means that they progress to the next round where they face Harland & Wolff Welders. Next up for Ards is Ballyclare in the league at the Bangor Fuels Arena on Saturday.
Yellow cards- McMillan