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Ants pick up first competitive win of the season with classy showing against Farmers Boys

Goals from Jordan White, Chis Mackie and Gary McGrath made sure The Ants collected their first 3 points of the new season in the Euroscot Engineering Sectional League Cup Group Five and continue their unbeaten start to the campaign

It was the away side though who started the brightest and Ants fans could have been forgiven for thinking a long day may be ahead of them when Neilston hit the crossbar not once, but twice in the opening minute of the match. The first came direct from a free kick, with the ball striking the underside of the crossbar and rebounding to a Neilston player who's cross back into the danger area was met by Essler who's diving header also hit the crossbar before the ball was eventually cleared.

This was the early wake up call the Govan side needed and for almost the remainder of the half Neilston were on the back foot. A lovely move involving six Ants players and some slick passing, ended with White unable to connect powerfully with McKay's cross. McKay then found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat from a wide angle after a slide rule pass by McGrath but the young winger dragged his shot just wide of the target and the deadlock remained unbroken until the 34th minute, Ronnie McDonald's long pass found Miller on the left and his low cross was turned home by JORDAN WHITE to give the Ants a deserved lead. Mackie almost doubled the advantage five minutes before the break but his free kick fired just wide of the keeper's right hand post.

Against the run of play, Neilston were handed a great opportunity to equalise in the 43rd minute when Kane was adjudged to have brought down a Neilston striker in the box and a penalty was awarded but Matty Carr in the Saints goal ensured the home side were ahead at the half time break as he guessed correctly diving to his left and smothering the ball

Half Time - Ants 1 v 0 Neilston

The second half was only minutes old when The Ants doubled their advantage. a Dean McKay corner found the head of CHRIS MACKIE and the striker made it two goals in two games with a bullet header into the top corner, leaving the Neilston keeper no chance. A flowing move almost lead to a third for the home side after Ronnie McDonald's long diagonal found Miller, his cross was cleverly dummied by White but Dickson failed to connect properly and the Keeper made an easy stop. Neilston then had their only real chances of the second period when McGrath's headed clearance from a deep cross was chested down and hit just wide by Essler from the edge of the box. Shortly after a good cross into the box flew across the face of the Ants goal but the Neilston forward just failed to connect and the danger was cleared.

This spurred the Ants back into action and the impressive Ronnie McDonald fed the ball through to Mackie but his shot was beaten away by the Neilston 'keeper. In the 77th minute Dickson thought he had made it three when he unleashed a great effort from a Miller backheel but the ball cannoned off the inside of the post and was hoofed away to safety. Two minutes later though the Ants were not to be denied a third goal, Dickson this time turning provider and his clever ball found GARY MCGRATH one on one with the goalkeeper, He sold the keeper a dummy beautifully before stroking the ball home to put the final nail in the coffin and ensure all 3 points stayed at McKenna Park

Full Time - Ants 3 v 0 Neilston

Ants Website Man of the Match - Chris Mackie

Ants Team

1. Matty Carr

2. Neil Reynolds

3. Thomas Miller

4. Ronnie McDonald

5.Tony Kane

6. Gary McGrath

7. Dean McKay *

8. Bernie McDonald

9. Chris Mackie ***

10. Gary Dickson

(69 Mins)

11. Jordan White **

Ants Subs

12. Mark McCuish

14. Andy Bonner *

(70 Mins)

15. Greig Cavanagh

16.John Borris **

(75 Mins)

17. David Kennedy ***

(80 Mins)

Goals

White - 34 (1-0)

Mackie - 47 (2-0)

McGrath - 79 (3-0)