Ants leave it late as Bembo bags point

McKenna Pak hosted its first ever match in the “Seniors” with East Kilbride the visitors and the Ants will be the happier of the two sides after a 94th minute leveller gained us our first ever point in the West of Scotland football league.

It is a cliche but this was a game of two sides with EK Thistle taking the better it in the first half, the Ants the more dominant in the second half but the Ants deserve credit for coming from behind not once but twice to earn their point.

It was the visitors who had the first chance when McDonald fired goalwards but Maliska got down well to save and the ball was smashed to safety, five minutes later the keeper was called into action this time making a good save from Riddock. The Ants had started slowly and once again Maliska came to the rescue with 32 minutes on the clock when a cross found the head of Taylor and the young Ants keeper produced a fine save clawing the ball out for a corner. Ten minutes before the break the Ants had their own chance to open the scoring when good work by Trialist B saw him cut the ball back into the path of Crawford but he leaned back and fired his shot over the bar from the edge of the area. In the 42nd minute EK got the opener that on the balance of play you would have to say they deserved when David McKean’s pass saw McDonald attempt to control, the ball hit his studs, and on the way through Crawfords legs hit the right back’s knee and landed perfectly for BLAIR MCDONALD to run through on goal and slot the ball past Maliska much to the delight of the EK committee and coaching staff.

HALF TIME ANTS 0 v 1 EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE (MCDONALD 42)

The Ants changed it up a bit at half time, bringing on Bembo for Danny Smith and changing the shape a little and within 3 minutes of the restart the change almost paid dividends when Trialist B put a good tackle in on an Thistle defender and put the ball in Bembo’s pass but the Ants striker was denied by a good save from Trainor. Davidson then put a dangerous ball across the goal mouth but Trialist A cleared the danger well. The Ants were given a golden opportunity to level in the 58th Minute when the referee pointed to the spot and EVA BEMBO made no mistake from the spot, sending Trainor the wrong way to grab his 3rd goal in 3 games for the Ants and level the scores at 1-1. Despite having most of the pressure and the ball in the half the Ants were limited to shots from distance or thwarted by decent defending by the visitors, who always looked dangerous on the break. It was the visitors that regained the lead in the 71st minute when Diack squared the ball to SCOTT DAVIDSON who’s shot looked like it had been blocked by Crawford on the line but the ball looped straight up in the air, Maliska jumped up to deal with it but missed the ball under pressure from McDonald who appeared to impede the Ants goalie and the ball ended up in the net. A defeat would have been harsh on the Ants but credit to the boys they kept plugging away and Carballo almost equalised with 6 minutes left to play but his shot was saved by Trainor. The Ants threw caution to the wind as they piled on the pressure, forcing a series of corners and throw ins around the Thistle penalty area and in the 94th minute they were rewarded when a Crawford corner was flicked on by Trialist A and EVA BEMBO fired home from close range, racing to the bench in celebration to embrace gaffer Danny Taylor.

FULL TIME – ANTS 2 (BEMBO 59 (PEN), 94) v 2 EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE (MCDONALD 42, DAVIDSON 71)

A hard fought draw for the Ants who now travel to Moor Park to face Lanark United next Saturday

ROGUE MONKEY DIGITAL MEDIA MAN OF THE MATCH – SHAUN GALLACHERR