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Ants win battle of the Saints as Candy Crushed away
Man of the Match - Niall Reynolds
The Ants travelled to Provanmill Park to take on a Saint Roch's side fighting for survival in this division who have recently appointed a new management team in John Fallon Snr & Jnr who are looking for their first win. The Ants for their part were looking to continue a fine run of form which has saw them unbeaten in 6 matches.
The visitors were almost off to a flier with only seven minutes on the clock when Andy Bonners pass was raced onto by Mackie but his shot come cross flashed across the front of the goal then some neat build up play found White on the wing but his cross was overhit and the chance was gone. The Ants continued their pressing in the opening 15 minutes and another cross, this time by Mark McCuish was fired into the box, only for the Candy rearguard to head to safety.
Despite all the pressure the away side had it looked like St Roch's had taken the lead with their first venture forward, when a cross into the box found a striker unmarked and he volleyed past the recently re-signed on loan Jon Connolly, however the celebrations were cut short when the Ref ruled him to be offside.
A minute after the disallowed goal, Mackie was hauled down by the diving St Roch's keeper which left Mr Munro no choice but to point to the spot. Jordan White was the man on the spot for The Ants but his spot kick was brilliantly parried onto the crossbar by Paul Roper in the home goal much to the disgust of the Ants striker. The Govan side continued to pile on the pressure and you felt a goal was inevitable but Mackie had a double shot blocked by some resolute defending and then a great through ball by captain Ronnie McDonald found Bonner who looked certain to slot the ball home but was inches away with his drive from the edge of the box.
In the 27th minute it looked like yet another chance had gone begging when the ball fell to Greenlees and his turn and shot hit the far post then flying past White as he pushed in for the rebound but luckily it fell to ROSS CUMMING who put the ball through a ruck of bodies and into the net to give the visitors a lead their play thoroughly deserved.
After the goal The Ants seemed quite content to knock the ball about as best they could in the conditions, and as the conditions got worse the ball became bogged down in midfield and the goal was the last goalmouth action of the half
Half Time - St Roch's 0 v 1 Ants
The Second half saw the home side start a bit brighter than the first half and it looked like they would equalise after 52 minutes when a cross was partially cleared by a good save by Connolly to the edge of the box, a shot was deflected into the path of a Roch midfielder but somehow he failed to hit the target with the goal gaping and the chance was gone. McGrath's clever through ball then almost released White but Roper was quick off his line to clear to safety. Credit to both teams for trying to play football on a pitch which had cut up badly in the incessant rain that had fallen for mostly the entire match.
A throw-in into the box put the Ants under pressure in the 63rd minute and Connolly was relieved to see a shot drop inches past his post to keep the Ants a goal to the good. St Roch's were then given a warning when a Corner by McKay was flicked off the head of Mackie as the Ants hitman looked ready to nod the ball home in the 70th minute and five minutes later thats exactly what happened.
McKay flighted a free kick right onto the head of CHRIS MACKIE who beat two Roch defenders in the air and bulleted a header past Roper to extend the visitors lead in the 75th minute to 2 goals to nil and a minute later things went from bad to worse for Saint Roch's as an ANDY BONNER strike from a tight angle after a great turn flew into the net leaving Roper with no chance again. The Roch to their credit never gave up and a Williams overhead kick flew past the post but The Ants played the rest of the game out without too much hassle and recorded a fine win in a match which always proves difficut
Full Time - St Roch's 0 v 3 Ants
Ants Website Man of the Match - Niall Reynolds
Ants Team
1. Jon Connolly
2. Neil Reynolds
3. Andy Bonner***
4. Ronnie McDonald
5.Tony Kane
6. Stevie Greenlees**
7. Mark McCuish
8. Gary McGrath
9. Chris Mackie
10. Ross Cumming
11. Jordan White *
Ants Subs
12. Darren O'Donnell **
(69 Mins)
14. Dean McKay * (63 Mins)
15. Greig Cavanagh
16.John Borris ***
(79 Mins)
17. Callum McLean
Ants Goals
Cumming 27 (1-0)
Mackie 75 (2-0)
Bonner 76 (3-0)
