The Ants made it 3 wins in a row after a fine 2-0 win as Dunipace visited McKenna Park on Saturday. We had to shuffle the pack once again as injuries and holidays forced the management into more changes following the last minute win away to Ashfield, Ross McDougall came in for Donnelly, Andy Scanlan came back in to the side for McManus, Gamba replaced Adam Dougan and Dean McKay made his first league start of the season.

It was Dunipace who threatened first when McGrandles through ball found Hughes, The Ants defence claimed for offside but the ref ignored the pleas. Wallace was quick off his line to narrow the angle and force the ‘Pace striker wide, McPherson latched onto the ball and cut it back to the aforementioned Hughes but his shot was excellently blocked by McDougall and out for a corner, then Wallace did well to tip the resultant corner over the top of the bar. McKay and Heron linked up well moments later when the winger found Heron but his cross was nicked off the head of Duncan by Rodger.

The Ants were starting to gather a bit of momentum now and almost took the lead in the 12th minute, Conway won a header in the middle of the park and knocked the ball down to McLaughlin, his little flick through found MIlarvie who raced through on goal but his shot was saved down low by Robertson and cleared by Rodger who gathered the rebound before Duncan could latch on to the loose ball. The Ants were starting to control the game and looked the most likely to open the scoring and that turned out to be the case in the 22nd minute. McKay was bundled down right on the edge of the box and from the resultant free kick CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN grabbed his second goal in two games as he fired past Robertson to put the Ants into the lead. Despite their dominance the Ants almost found themselves clawed back onto level terms but Rodger put his header just past the post and the Ants faithful breathed a sigh of relief.

This close shave gave Dunipace a lift and they had their best spell of the match for the next five or so minutes trying to knock the ball about but only created one chance when Hughes fired over from a McPherson flick on. The home side then went close when Heron fired just over from the edge of the box then Duncan headed inches over the top. As half time approached Heron almost found Duncan after a good run down the left wing, he cut inside but his pass was intercepted by McGlinchie and cleared to safety. Right on half time Stephenson cut inside, his shot was partially blocked but found it’s way to Grant just outside the box but the ‘Pace full back fired over and the Ants went in a goal to the good at half time.

HALF TIME ANTS 1 v 0 DUNIPACE

The Ants came out in a bullish mood and were right onto the front foot, a flowing move down the right hand side saw Gamba’s cross into the box blocked for a corner, McLaughlin swung the ball in and found it’s way tot he back post but McLean couldn’t keep his shot down and it remained 1-0 to the Ants. McDougall then sent Duncan through on goal as he beat the offside trap to bear down on Robertson’s goal, but as he went to shoot Rodger made a great tackle to deny the Ants striker and the chance was gone. In the 67th minute the Ants finally doubled their lead. McLean stole the ball in the middle of the park and charged forward, then slipped the ball to Milarvie, his cross found JACK HERON who adjusted his body well to volley past Robertson and give the Ants a two goal cushon. Duncan then had the chance to put the result beyond any doubt when he did well to rob a ‘Pace defender and raced through on goal, he tried to round the keeper but got forced wide as he looked destined to score but did well to regainhis composure to square the ball to McLaughlin but he leant back slightly and his shot went over the bar and the chance was gone. Donaghy then played Gordon in on goal but he couldn’t get enough behind his shot to trouble Robertson then McLean dragged a shot past the post in the last minute.

FULL TIME ANTS 2 (McLaughlin 22, Heron 67) v 0 DUNIPACE

Ants Website Man of the Match – Chris McLaughlin

A Wullie Duncan hat-trick, alongside goals by David Donnelly, Chris Gordon, Conor Meechan and Jack Heron left the Ants fans in seventh heaven at the full time whistle as Doyle and McDonald’s side ran out 7-1 winners against a Newmains team, who to their credit kept fighting to the end despite the scoreline.

The Ants dominated from the first whistle and almost took the lead after only a minute but Milarvie was inches away from connecting with Gordon’s cross and Duncan couldn’t get any power behind his effort on the turn then McLaughlin set Duncan clean through on Orr but he was forced wide as he tried to round the keeper and Milarvie’s cross was blocked for a corner. From the corner the Ants took the lead when McLaughlin found the head of DAVID DONNELLY and the big centre half made it two in two in the league with a powerful downward header. Newmains then had their first effort on goal but McCreadie didn’t catch his shot right under pressure from Conway and Wallace held easily.

The Ants almost doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Wallace’s goal kick found on loan Darren McLean who fired a shot at goal but the onrushing Orr did well to block and the ball was booted upfield, Donnelly controlled the ball well and passed to Gamba, his first time pass let McLean get a great cross in but Duncan couldn’t keep his header down. Duncan then had another great chance when McLean knocked down a Gamba free kick but his attempted volley went wide. McLean then had a great chance to score but Orr produced a great one handed save to deny the debutant a goal. Duncan was causing the visitors all kinds of problems but couldn’t find a way past Orr. The two time Ants top goalscorer was not to be denied though and got his name on the scoresheet in the 17th minute. Conway’s through ball was only half cleared by the Newmains defence and Gordon headed the ball to Meechan who found WULLIE DUNCAN rushing in to slam the ball past Orr and double the Ants lead. In the 34th minute the Ants all but wrapped up the game, McManus sent a lovely ball forward for CHRIS GORDON to run onto and his quick thinking first time shot from fully 30 yards caught Orr out and bounced under the keepers perfunctory dive and into the empty net to make it 3-0. Right on the stroke of half time WULLIE DUNCAN grabbed his second and the Ants fourth when McLaughlin sent him through on goal, he beat Orr to the ball and headed home from 6 yards to send the Ants in 4-0 at the break.

The second half was a case of more of the same and with only 16 seconds on the clock it was 5-0. McLean sliding a neat pass through to CONOR Meechan and the flame haired midfielder sent Orr the wrong way to further increase the Ants lead with a fine finish. A minute later a long ball from Wallace sent McLean through but he couldn’t get his shot on target. Not that the Ants fans had to wait much longer on the sixth goal when WULLIE DUNCAN capitalised on Orr’s inability to hold a shot with a lovely finish for his hat-trick and the Ants sixth after only 50 minutes. Newmains almost grabbed a consolation after 62 minutes but Dillon McLaughlan’s effort hit the top of the crossbar and went over.

The Ants had maybe taken the foot off the gas a little, as is normal when your six goals to the good and a general malaise overcame them at times but they still posed a threat whenever they went forward and almost grabbed a seventh when Meechan’s long diagonal found Duncan unmarked at the back post, the striker then unselfishly tried to pass to Gordon but his pass was cut out and the chance was gone. McLaughlin then went close when he got on the end of a Meechan cross that had been partially cleared but he leant back slightly and fired over the bar. The Ants then had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the 72nd minute when sub Donaghy found Gordon in the box, he was scythed down by Howson from behind but much to the Ants strikers annoyance the man in the middle waved play on. Credit to Newmains they kept working hard and started to come into the game a little more when good work between McLaughlan and Anderson saw the latter have an effort at goal which drifted wide. In the 77th minute Newmains grabbed a consolation when a cross into the box by Fitzpatrick was headed into his own net by ADAM DOUGAN, to be fair it was a cracking finish that gave Wallace no chance, flying into the top corner.

The Ants seemed a bit more fired up by that and they regained their six goal advantage when Dougan atoned for his earlier own goal by setting up JACK HERON for his first league goal of the season with a drilled finish from the edge of the box in the 88th minute to put the lid on a 7 star performance making it 7-1 on the day.

Next up for the Ants is a trip to Saracen Park to face their old friends Ashfield, with Doyle and McDonald hoping they can pick up from where they left off this week.

Ants Website Man of the Match – A number of candidates could have got the nod but it’s got to be WULLIE DUNCAN for notching a hat-trick

A 96th minute penalty from the returning Brian Henderson rescued a point for the Ants, which was in fairness the least the deserved against Vale of Leven at McKenna Park. The Ants were looking to bounce back from defeat the previous week to Lanark, with Vale of Leven looking to pick themselves up after Perthshire hit them for four with no reply in their last match.

The Ants started brightly and Smith tried his luck from distance, his shot deflected from the head of Devine and Andrew Campbell made a smart stop to spare the defenders blushes, then a neat interchange between Miller and Kane saw the former whip in a cross ball which Campbell could only attempt to punch under pressure, but he didn’t connect properly, luckily for the visiting Vale, McGeachy was on hand to clear the ball off the line with McKay bearing down on a tap in. Vale were finding it difficult to create any real chances of their own, and once again had their keeper Campbell to thank, this time getting down swiftly to get a hand to a Crawford low drilled cross, Maxwell looked to pounce on the loose ball but he was beaten to the ball by Vale captain Wilson and the chance was gone.

In the 22nd minute Vale of Leven fashioned their first real chance of the match but Monaghan’s effort was well blocked by Lennox and cleared to safety, then 10 minutes later Scott Cowan rose well to connect to a Craig Cowan cross but couldn’t direct his header on target and the chance was gone.

The Ants continued to press forward looking to break the deadlock and Maxwell did well to beat two challenges and fire goalward but Campbell again saved well, then a Kane cross looked to be creeping in at the far post but once again Campbell thwarted the Ants with a fine diving save. Just before half time came the save of the match, Crawford’s free kick was headed straight back to him by Wilson and the winger fired another shot which looked destined for the back of the net, but Campbell somehow got down to it and then showed great agility to save again from Kane, albeit with the Ants player co-manager in an offside position and the Ref blowing for the offence. This was the last action of the half and the teams went in locked at 0-0.

The second half was basically a carbon copy of the first with the Ants enjoying the majority of chances but being unable to capitalise on them. With the second half minutes old Crawford whipped in a free kick which met the head of Kane but his looping header dipped too late and dropped the wrong side of the cross bar. The Ants did have the ball in the net in the 54th minute when a deep Conway cross saw Maxwell jump with the Vale keeper and bundle the ball into the net but the current Ants Player of the Year was adjudged correctly to have barged the ‘keeper and a free kick awarded then Kane again tried his luck from range but his shot lacked power.

A goal was coming, you could feel it and in the 62nd minute it did, however what wasn’t expected was it to be for the visitors given the Ants monopoly on chances, but the old adage of taking your chances comes to mind. Neossi gained possession of the ball in his own penalty area from a Vale free kick and advanced forward, his pass into midfield though went straight to Bryson, he found Scott Cowan with a lofted pass, who headed the ball into the path of JOSH GRACE, who showed good composure to slam the ball past Daniel Campbell to give the visitors the lead 0-1.  Bizarrely the game was then held up for 3 minutes, which were to prove costly for the visitors when Vale of Leven ‘Keeper Campbell injured himself celebrating the opening goal with what appeared to be some kind of calf strain when he jumped to punch the air.

Straight from kick off the Ants went back on the attack, Conway playing the ball to Kane, who found Crawford. The winger cut inside but his shot lacked power and was easily gathered, then Kane again tried his luck from distance but shot again straight at the visiting goalie. Time was running out for the Ants and Miller shot just wide of the target from a free kick. In the 90th minute Grace looked to have sealed all three points for the visitors as his shot beat Campbell but the Ants fans breathed a huge sigh of relief when his shot hit the upright and rolled to safety. Still the Ants pushed for the equaliser and Miller was inches away from the edge of the box but his effort flew just past the post.

In the 95th minute the Ants grabbed a vital lifeline for an equaliser, Henderson found Miller who’s diagonal pass was judged to perfection for Kimbala to race onto, as the diminutive hitman went to control the ball Campbell, who had been having a great game for the visitors, came from nowhere and jumped clean through the Ants striker leaving ref Murphy with no option but to award a penalty and issue a red card. BRIAN HENDERSON stepped up with what turned out to be the last kick of the ball and captain Wilson who had taken over the gloves was left with no chance as the ball went the opposite side to his dive and it finished 1-1.

Next up for the Ants is another home game, this time v Royal Albert on Saturday 18th February. Kick Off 2pm.

Ants Website Man of the Match – Tony Kane (Poll will be back after the end of the month)

The Ants three match unbeaten run came to a grinding halt at Moor Park as Lanark ran out 4-2 winners in a match where lady luck seemed to desert the visiting Ants. It all started so brightly as well when after only two minutes the Ants took the lead. Crawford’s pin point accuracy from a free kick found the head of KIERON MAXWELL to bullet a header past Hallford for his sixth goal of the season. Buoyed by the confidence of the goal, the Ants did the majority of the early pressing, but Lanark always looked dangerous on the break and David O’Donnell was unlucky not to get on the end of a Burns cross from one of these breaks.

The Ants almost doubled their lead in the 11th minute when a slide rule pass by Kane put Maxwell through on goal but his effort went just past Hallford’s near post. Lanark were beginning to come into the game a bit more and the home crowd thought they had drawn level in the 11th minute but PJ O’Donnell’s effort flew inches wide of the diving Campbell’s post. Lanark did indeed draw level only four minutes later when McDonald was adjudged to have fouled a Lanark forward, PAUL BURNS stepped up and sent Campbell the wrong way to make it 1-1. The match was beginning to open up, Maxwell saw a good shot blocked after Hallford could only punch the ball half clear and then from the resultant corner Lanark took the lead, McKay’s corner was headed clear and it sent Annetts racing away on the counter, his pass found DAVID O’DONNELL who was somewhat fortuitous when just as he went to shoot the ball bobbled, hit his shin and looped over the head of Campbell into the net to make it 2-1 to the home side after 24 minutes.

It could have got worse for the Ants on the half hour mark when Kearney beat the offside trap, but rather than shoot he elected to square the ball to David O’Donnell and O’Brien was on hand to clear over his own crossbar. Having gone behind and with the scare of nearly going two goals behind, the Ants began to put sustained pressure on the Lanark defence, Kane’s cross was poorly dealt with by Hallford as his punch only reached Crawford at the edge of the box, but the home keeper redeemed himself with a good block from Crawford’s effort, then a nice move saw Miller switch the ball over to McKay, his cut inside gave him a chance at goal which Hallford gathered at the second attempt under pressure from Kelly, The Ants fans claiming for a penalty after McKay was brought down after his shot but Mr Rae wasn’t interested.

The pressure continued to build from the visitors, first Maxwell just failed to get his effort on target from a McKay cross, then Gallagher almost netted into his own goal but his header was held by Hallford. A second penalty claim came right on half time when from a corner Christie looked to have blocked with his arm on the line under pressure from Kelly, but again the claims fell on deaf ears and the home side would have went into the break relieved to be a goal to the good.

Lanark got the second half under way and came flying out the traps. They almost took the lead in the 48th minute but McGurk’s effort went just wide, then a Kearney shot went just over the bar a minute later. In the 53rd minute they did get the third goal when a nice flick through from David O’Donnell found PJ O’Donnell, his pass hit McDonald on the back of the leg and landed right at the feet of RONAN KEARNEY who spun and shot, just before it reached Campbell the ball seemed to bobble up and flew over the keepers hand to make it 3-1 to the home side. The Ants never gave up though and looked to reduce the deficit as quickly as possible, Kelly unlucky to see his shot blocked as a Lanark player threw himself infront of the ball. They did reduce the deficit in the 57th minute when Conway’s first shot was blocked but found Kelly who played the ball back again and ANTON CONWAY fired past Hallford to pull a goal back for the Ants and make it 3-2. With an hour on the clock the Ants fans thought their side had found an equaliser when Kelly hit a looping effort on the spin but Hallford managed to get a hand to it and pushed it over the bar.

A golden chance to level came the Ants way in the 64th minute when Maxwell found Crawford and the Ants winger advanced on goal, He fired a shot at goal as Hallford advanced but Lawson threw himself infront of the shot bravely and the chance was gone. As the Ants pushed forward for the equaliser, Lanark began to exploit some of the gaps at the back and had a couple of efforts that didn’t really trouble Campbell but this changed in the 73rd minute with more than a slice of bad luck from the Ants point of view. A corner from the left was headed away to the edge of the box by Conway, Neossi went to clear the danger completely but his clearance bounced straight off of the face of McGurk, the ball couldn’t have landed any better for CAMERON LAWSON who gratefully slipped the ball past Campbell to restore Lanark’s two goal lead. Both sides then had a couple of half chances but to no avail and the home side saw out the game, running out 4-2 winners.

A harsh result for an Ants side who on another day with a little more luck could have at the very least got a share of the spoils but it wasn’t to be and they now have to pick themselves up for the visit of Vale of Leven to McKenna Park on the 11th February.

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The Govan bragging rights are staying with the Bens until the next meeting of the two sides after they ran out 3-1 winners at McKenna Park. DARREN MILLER opened the scoring after 16 minutes drilling low past Connolly before KIERON MAXWELL equalised in the 28th minute after being played through by Grant Kelly. Four minutes later the Bens had regained the lead when JAMIE BOYLE scored from a good turn and shot. The Ants were reduced to ten men when ANTON CONWAY was shown a second yellow card after 64 minutes and the Bens increased their lead ten minutes later when JAMIE BOYLE fired home with a great strike from 25 yards. The Bens were also reduced to ten men with 3 minutes remaining after SCOTT JACKSON was shown a straight red for an off the ball incident. It was too late in the game to make any real difference though and it finished 3-1 to the Bens.