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Next Stop Round Two as Ants cruise past Craigmark

(Photo courtesy of Stephen Kennedy - www.thejuniors.info)

Saint Anthonys secured themselves a place in the draw for round two of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup with a clinical performance on a testing surface at Station Park, A Chris Mackie double and a Ross Cumming strike the difference.

The Visitors started brightly and with only 6 minutes on the clock found themselves a goal to the good when CHRIS MACKIE fired past the helpless Craigmark custodian to put the Ants 1-0 up. The conditions made it difficult to get any real flowing football started and at one stage ROSS CUMMINGalmost fell down a small hill trying to bring the ball under control. The powerful big striker managed however to score the Ants second with a shot from outside the box after only 12 minutes. That appeared to be that in terms of Craigmark as it looked like the Ants would steam over the top of them but credit to the Ayrshire side they fought their way back into it and three minutes later reduced the defecit to a single goal when the referee judged that a Craigmark player had been brought down in the box. Carr got a hand to the resultant spot kick from BALFOUR but could not keep it out as it crept over the line.

This gave the home side some heart and they had a little bit of pressure with Carr having to save from a long range effort, then Balfour hit the ball past the post. The Ants for their part nearly got their two goal cushion back when a passback went wayward but the ball stopped short of the line and was cleared

Half Time Craigmark 1 v 2 Ants

The second half saw the Ants become the dominant force and Craigmark struggled to get out of their own half at times, resorting to a long ball to the lone striker. Mackie and Cumming both went close before the impressive substitute Fletcher caused some discomfort in the home defence with his direct runs and decent crosses. Despite the pressure Saints had to wait till the 81st minute to increase their lead when a ball through to CHRIS MACKIE was expertly controlled and flicked over the 'keepers head in one movement by the Ants top goalscorer to put the Ants through to the next round of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup

Full Time - Craigmark 1 v 3 Ants

Man of the Match - Chris Mackie

Ants Team

1. Matty Carr

2.Niall Reynolds

3. Alistair Morgan

4. Gareth Timoney

5. Tony Kane

6. Gary McGrath

7. Dean McKay

8. Ross Cumming

9. Chris Mackie

10. Gary Dickson

11. John Borris

Ants Subs

12. David Kennedy

14. Jordan White

15. Jordan Fletcher

Goals

Cumming

1-0 Mackie 6 Mins

2-0 Cumming 12 Mins

3-1 Mackie 81 Mins