It took them 191 minutes to make a breakthrough, but Ballymena United finally saw off Ards to progress to the sixth round of the JJB Sports Irish Cup.

Saturday’s stalemate brought about last night’s replay and after another 90 minutes the scoresheet remained blank.

Then 11 minutes into extra-time Kevin Kelbie scored the goal that sent his team through.

Ards had sensed that their senior opponents were there for the taking and made the early running. Craig McMillan and Aaron McKee flashed crosses past Sean O'Neill goal in the first ten minutes and Darren Fitzgerald saw his volley held by the inform goalkeeper on the 15th minute.

Gary Haveron could have put the Sky Blues in front twice with two headers from Philip Carson free-kicks. The first one bounced over while Andy McDonald saved the second.

The second-half was a nervous affair with chances few and fair between.

Haveron fired over the bar with a 58th minute free- kick and Ards were unable to create any genuine chances.

Albert Watson squandered an injury-time opening. before Kelbie broke the deadlock when after playing a one-two with Nathan McConnell he rolled the ball past McDonald.

Ballymena United: O'Neill, Smith, Colligan, Haveron, Al Watson, Ramsey, Ai Watson, Carson, Kelbie, Lockhart, Stewart. Subs: Nelson, McConnell, Surgenor, Anderson, Cushley.

Ards: McDonald, Cully, Pike, Nixon, Spence, Dickson, Wright, McKee, McMillan, Stirling, Fitzgerald Subs: Wilson, Irvine, McIlhagga, Doyle, Gorman.

Referee: Mark Courtney (Dungannon).