The Ants unbeaten start to the season came to an end when East Kilbride Thistle left McKenna Park with all three points and will now look to bounce back to winning ways in two weeks when they host league leaders Port Glasgow.
East Kilbride started well and had the games first effort on goal within the first couple of minutes but McFadden was under pressure from Crawford and shot straight at Connolly, this seemed to rouse a lethargic looking Ants into some kind of action and a great run by Ryan Smith saw claims for a penalty but Mr Dixon pointed only for a corner after Smith’s cross was deflected out amidst handball shouts from the Ants forwards. O’Hara then found Maxwell but the midfielder, in his first game back from injury, snatched a bit at his shot and Treacy watched as the ball flew over the bar.
It was a battle of midfields with neither team creating many chances other than from set-pieces and it was from a set play that the visitors somewhat fortuitously took the lead in the 20th minute when Connolly spilled a free kick into his 6 yard box, both him and JAMES LENNOX went for the ball with the EK forwards closing in, with the ball spinning off the veteran Ants defender who watched on in horror as the ball squirmed home to make it 0-1 to the visitors.
The Ants almost hit back straight away but both Maxwell and Conway just failed to get on the end of an O’Hara cross. With half an hour gone McCarry tried an audacious lob from the halfway line which looked to worry the Jags keeper who was off his line but the panic calmed as he scampered towards his line realising the ball was drifting wide. Just before half time came the move of the match and one that should have resulted in a goal. Connolly found Maxwell with a kickout, who in turn passed back to Ryan Smith, the young winger slipped the ball to O’hara who switched the play to Crawford, his slide rule pass set Kelly free on the left hand wing and his cross picked out Maxwell but his header went just over the bar and the half ended with EK a goal to the good.
The second half was more of the same with decent chances at a premium, but a few half chances of note. O’Brien found himself with the ball at the edge of the Jags box but his shot lacked power and was easily saved by Treacy then a good run by Hastings across the Ants penalty area ended with a shot just wide of target. As with the first half it looked like goals would only come from set plays and Treacy did well to hold an O’Hara free kick which bounced just before him having come through a rake of players while at the other end Aaron Connolly tried to beat his namesake Jon from a similar distance but the big man wasn’t troubled.
East Kilbride should have taken the lead in the 75th minute when Craig’s free kick from wide was headed off the bar by Johnston, the ball landed square on the head of McFadden with an empty goal gaping but he was in fairness stretching a little and headed over. The Ants should have kicked on from this let off but seven minutes later they were down by two when Johnston’s long ball found the run of ANDREW GIBSON, who appeared to knock the ball past Connolly with the top of his arm and the Ants unbeaten run was hanging by a thread. A minute late the Ants pulled themselves right back into the game when O’Hara floated in a free kick which enticed Treacy off his line but he was never getting near it and ANTON CONWAY grabbed his second in two games with a nice little flicked header into the net. The Ants started pushing forward looking for the equaliser but this left gaps at the back and in the 90th minute a great run by Gibson saw his cross find McFadden but again the EK captain was foiled this time by a fantastic save by Connolly to keep the Ants in it.
Time was against the Govan men though and the full time whistle saw them taste defeat for the first time since the Sectional League Cup and will have to be much sharper when the league leaders come to visit.
Ants Website Man of the Match – Michael O’Hara
