Unbeaten Run ended as Ants pay price for missed chances

Thomas Miller

Man of the Match Thomas Miller - Photo courtesy of Stephen Kennedy www.thejuniors.info

The Ants went into this match on the back of an unbeaten start to the season however a combination of poor finishing and mistakes in defence meant this run was to end at the hands of the visitors Larkhall and prove the old addage that its what happens if you don't take your chances. Ants Manager James McKenna was forced into one change to the team that won the Govan Derby with Gareth Timoney replacing Bernie McDonald who would start the match on the bench

Larkhall started the brighter of the two sides and only a couple of minutes were on the clock when McKeever fired a shot off the angle of the side of the crossbar and post with Carr diving at full stretch to cover. This stirred the Ants into action and for much of the half Larkhall were on the back foot. Mackie forced Thompson into a save as the Larkhall keeper tipped the strikers header over the crossbar in the 12th minute of the match. From the resultant McKay corner Timoney headed just wide under pressure from 'Keeper Thompson and Grant.

Thompson nearly gifted the Ants the lead in the 15th minute when he appeared to flap at the ball after coming off his line to punch clear a Ronnie McDonald high ball, the ball landed to White at the edge of the box but his shot sailed inches wide of the post.

There was a swirling wind at McKenna Park and in the 20th minute of the match this worked in Larkhall's favour. Kelly swung in a dangerous corner kick and Ants 'Keeper MATTY CARR attempted to punch the ball clear only to watch in horror as the ball shot off his gloves and into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Gary Dickson spurned a great chance to level in the 24th minute when he beat the offside trap to bring down a fine pass by R.McDonald, his dummy left keeper Thompson floundering however he somehow contrived to blast the ball over the bar with the keeper at his feet and the chance was gone. This was a let-off for the visitors however 4 minutes later the Ants did restore parity. a McKay corner was flicked on at the near post by Miller and CHRIS MACKIE headed home his 9th goal in 8 games for the Ants with a fine header.

The Ants joy was, however, short lived. a long ball through the middle of the park somehow made it's way to CANNING in the 32nd minute and he dispatched the ball past Carr to restore the visitors lead much to the despair of the home side's fans. The Ants tried to fire an immediate reply however McGraths curling effort from the edge of the box didn't manage to come down and flew over the bar

Half Time - Ants 1 v 2 Larkhall

The second half was pretty much more of the same. Larkhall had the first chance of the half, McLaughlin's header striking the post, before the Ants started peppering the Larkhall goal with chances without taking them.

Larkhall were lucky to keep 10 men on the park in the 53rd minute when Carr dived on a through ball only to be caught by a straight legged tackle by McKeever leaving the Ants keeper in agony however Mr Wilkin deemed that the tackle only merited a yellow card

Gary Dickson saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Thompson with a fine diving one handed save and from the resulting corner the keeper broke Ants hearts again this time athletically turning over a Thomas Miller shot after he had spun well to fire his shot in.

You had the feeling it wasn't going to be the Ants day infront of goal and again this proved to be the case when White headed wide from a McKay corner. This was to be both players final contribution to the match as the Ants management team rung the changes, bringing on last season's top goalscorer Ross Cumming, who had missed the last couple of games through injury, and ex-Larkhall player Andy Bonner in the 65th minute.

The change almost had an instant impact in the 70th minute when Mackie knocked the ball down to Cumming, his pass found Miller who beat his marker and cut the ball back to the on-rushing Cumming, but once again Thompson foiled the Ants attack diving to save the striker's effort and the Jags defence cleared the danger.

The Ants were in constant attack mode now and both Subs Bonner and Cumming linked up well as the former's through ball found Cumming, again Thompson saved the hitman's effort and Mackie couldn't connect properly with his head to the rebound and the chance was gone

Despite the waves of Ants attacks Larkhall seemed content to defend and play on the break and this almost paid dividends in the 76th minute, Subsitute Gracie passed the ball inside to a Larkhall striker in the middle of the Ants penalty area with only Carr to beat however a great tackle by Timoney took the ball from the strikers feet and out for a corner which came to nothing.

With 10 minutes remaining the Ants can feel hard done to not to be awarded a penalty kick when Cumming appeared to be felled in the box however Mr Wilkin, who in fairness had a decent match, waved play on much to the dismay of the Ants Players.

Despite creating the bulk of the chances in the match Saints were punished for their failure to profit from them in the 85th minute. Dickson failed to connect properly with a shot and the ball was punted towards Gracie, the big striker appeared to foul Ronnie McDonald with a blatant barge as the Ants captain went to header the ball forward but the Ants regained the ball. Dickson was pickpocketed for the ball by McLaughlin who sent a high through ball for Gracie to chase. It appeared that Kane and Carr had the situation under control but a lack of communication between the duo saw Carr attempt to clear but GRAHAM GRACIE had closed the ball down well and the keepers clearance hit the strikers shin and rolled into the empty net to increase the visitors lead.

The Ants players to their credit refused to throw in the towel and with a minute left on the clock GARETH TIMONEY gave them hope of at least snatching a draw with a fine header from a Ronnie McDonald free kick however it proved to be in vein as they failed to breach the Larkhall defence in the 4 minutes of injury time.

An end to the unbeaten run and a bad day at the office for the Govan side however they can take heart from the chances they created and will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Lesmahagow at Craighead Park on Saturday the 8th of September

Larkhall Thistle Team:
Thomson; Russell, Weir, Brown, Richardson; McKeever, Canning, Kelly, McLaughlin; McGeachie, Grant. Subs: Gracie, Bradley, Moore

Full Time - Ants 2 v 3 Larkhall

Ants Website Man of the Match - Thomas Miller

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Ants Team

1. Matty Carr

2.Niall Reynolds

3. Thomas Miller

4. Ronnie McDonald

5. Tony Kane

6. Gareth Timoney

7. Dean McKay *

(65 Mins)

8. Gary McGrath ***

(85 Mins)

9. Chris Mackie

10. Gary Dickson

(80 Mins)

11. Jordan White *

(65 Mins)

Ants Subs

12. Ross Cumming *

(65 Mins)

16. Andy Bonner **

(65 Mins)

14. Chris Paul

15. Bernie McDonald ***(85 Mins)

17. Alistair Morgan

Goals

Mackie 28 (1-1)

Timoney 89 (2-3)