Chris Morgan opened the scoring after eight minutes when he rounded Ards 'keeper Lee Rutherford followed, two minutes later, by a Paul Walsh drive from 25-yards in what was his competitive debut for Gerry Flynn's side.

Ards hit back through a 14th minute Darren Fitzgerald penalty awarded after James Doherty handled in the area but within a minute Newry had restored their three goal cushion courtesy of a Stephen Garrett finish when he collected a Kevin Keegan ball with his back to goal just six yards out.

The scoring continued ten minutes into the second half when Marty Havern delivered from the left for Sean Friars to slot home from close range.

And Friars found the net again with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with a header from six yards following an Alan Davidson free-kick while, with a minute remaining, Davidson himself rounded things off with a low shot from the right.