It is now nine league games without a win for Comrades, as they conceded four goals to lose to Ards at Dixon Park.

Inside 20 seconds the hosts conceded a penalty when Lee McCune was adjudged to have pushed McCurry over in the box. However, they were rescued by ‘keeper Jack Ferguson who guessed the right way and made a save from Calderwood’s spot kick.

Comrades continued to come under pressure from Ards in the early stages of the game, but it was they who opened the scoring in the 10^th minute when Ciaran Heggarty got his head to a great ball played in from a free kick by Ian Fletcher and directed it like a rocket into the net from 8 yards.

A minute later the home side threatened again when Tom Mathieson got into the box and fired a powerful shot on goal from 16 yards which ‘keeper Neeson had to parry out at the near post.

Comrades were on top for a spell now and had a chance to double their lead in the 16^th minute when an Ards defender misjudged a high ball and Liam Hassin stole possession before laying the ball across to Ian Fletcher in space at the edge of the box. However, he was denied when his shot was blocked by Neeson who alert to the danger had advanced from his goal.

Ards were back on level terms in the 22^nd minute and it came from a corner, not for the last time during the game that Comrades were to be undone from a set-piece. On this occasion the ball was whipped into the crowded 6-yard box and not cleared, with McGrandles eventually heading in from close range.

The visitors were now back on the front-foot and on 24 minutes it took a great covering tackle in the box by Curtis Woods to deny McCurry who looked to be running free in on goal.

A minute later however Ards did take the lead. A free kick played into the box saw the unmarked Ferrin get a get a header on goal from 7 yards which Jack Ferguson did well to keep out, but Arthurs was quickest to react to the loose ball, tucking it away from 3 yards out.

The hosts were then further hit with having to make two enforced substitutions due to injuries to Ian Fletcher and Tom Mathieson, but they managed to avoid conceding again before the half-time whistle.

The second half opened brightly enough for the hosts, with Adam Gray fizzing a good strike from 20 yards low just past the post in the 47^th minute. However, Ards soon began to look dangerous again and on 53 minutes they came close when McCurry got to a long ball played to the edge of the box before the outrushing ‘keeper, but he was driven wide and his effort on the unguarded goal went past the far post.

In the 58^th minute the visitors got a third goal and again it came from a set-piece. This time a corner was played to the back post was met by a Cafolla header which was not the most powerful but still managed to creep inside the post in slow motion as Comrades somehow failed to clear it.

Things looked bleak for the home side, but they eventually managed to rouse themselves. On 69 minutes a ball played into the box from deep by Lee McCune was met by Liam Hassin who got between two defenders, but his volleyed effort from 6 yards was off target. Then on 73 minutes Comrades did get a goal back when the ball was laid to Ashton McDermott from a corner, and he whipped a good ball to the back post area where Chris Ramsey was there to head it in from 4 yards.

The home side now sniffed the chance of salvaging something from the game, but they couldn’t find the vital goal. The closest they came was a minute into injury-time when substitute Joe Tully stung the palms of the ‘keeper with a shot driven in from the left side of the box.

Three minutes into added time Ards sealed the win when, with Comrades pressing forward, they launched a devastating counter-attack which ended with Jallow rounding the ‘keeper and slotting the ball calmly home from a tight angle.