A Wullie Duncan double secured all three points for the Ants in a tough match that saw them open their Central District Division 2 campaign with a fine win over Gartcairn at McKenna Park. The half was littered with half chances and only a top class Connolly save which showed pure reflex and a couple of good blocks from the ‘Cairn defence were the only chances of real note although the Ants can count themselves lucky not to have conceded a penalty when Crawford looked to have brought down a Gartcairn striker. The opening goal came In the 44th minute, a Michael O’Hara through ball found last seasons Ants top goalscorer WULLIE DUNCAN and he showed great composure to round Halliwell in the Cairn goal and slip the ball into an empty net. This gave the home side the momentum going into the second half and it could have been two after 53 minutes when Duncan again rounded the keeper only for a Gartcairn defender to get back to clear the ball when a goal looked certain. The Ants fans wouldn’t have to wait too long to celebrate another goal as on the 60th minute a fine knock on by Anton Conway found WULLIE DUNCAN in plenty of space inside the box and he slipped the ball past the keeper to put the Ants 2-0 ahead. Gartcairn were then reduced to ten men when their centre half Ryan Kennedy was sent off for foul and abusive language after taking umbrage with a decision from Referee Ferguson. From the resultant throw in the Ants had their own appeals for a penalty waved away when Grant Kelly’s run was blocked but again Mr Ferguson refused to point to the spot. In the 87th minute Connolly again did well to forearm the ball over the bar from a free kick after the ball bounced and shot upwards just as he was about to catch it. Dean McKay had the chance to wrap up the three points in the 82nd minute but another great block from a Gartcairn defender kept the ball from going goalwards. Gartcairn were appealing for another penalty in the 90th minute when a shot hit Lennox however Mr Ferguson ruled there was no intent and the score finished with a 2-0 win.
Ants Website Man of the Match – There were plenty of options for this one but in the end his deadly double earned WULLIE DUNCAN the award
