STEEL CUP: Ards 0 Carrick 2

A 51st-minute Mark Burns own goal and a late Adam Dick strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in a hard-fought clash at Seaview.

Ards had a big penalty appeal waved away by referee Steven Taylor before Owain Beggs saw red for a second bookable offence.

Niall Currie’s men will be kicking themselves for squandering early opportunities. They started like a house on fire with Gary Warwick wasting a presentable offering from a central position inside two minutes.

Carrick keeper Brian Neeson then produced the save of the match with an acrobatic stop from William Faulkner’s glancing header.

Ten minutes before the break Neeson was called into action again - this time from Owain Beggs’ low drive from the edge of the area.

The deadlock was broken six minutes into the second session courtesy of Burns’ own goal. The big centre-back turned the ball into his own net as he attempted to deal with Miguel Chines’ cross from the right.

The goal lifted Haveron’s charges and Ards stopper Graeme McKibbin had to be at his best to stop Chines’ close-range header on the hour.

Ards then had that penalty appeal waved away after Faulkner looked to be clattered in the box.

Minutes later Beggs received his marching orders and he can have no complaints for what was late and uneccesary foul on Carrick skipper Aaron Harmon.

The Gers had the impetus and Dick’s late strike, which zipped past McKibbin, was met by strains of Jingle Bells by the jubilant Amber Army.

Ards: McKibbin, Hall, Burns, Convery, Shannon, E. McAllister, Cully, Arthurs, Warwick (D. McAllister, Downey), Faulkner, Beggs. Subs not used, Hislop, Dougan, Barnett

Carrick Rangers: Neeson, Smyth, McKenna, Donaghy, Taggart, Watson (Kane), Harmon, Cherry (McConnell), McCloskey, Chines, Roy (Dick). Subs not used: Lynch, Arthur,

Referee: Steven Taylor (Belfast).