The Ants came within a minute of bouncing back from the disappointment of last weeks 4-0 defeat at Vale of Clyde but Shaun Gallagher’s injury time leveller saw the points shared at McKenna Park. STEPHEN KANE had put Lanark ahead after only 48 seconds before a CHRIS GORDON volley had levelled things up after 6 minutes. The Ants went ahead after 38 minuted when STUART ANNETTS put into his own net but SHAUN GALLAGHER broke Ants hearts with a goal in the 93rd minute.

The Ants league campaign got off to a losing start away to Vale of Leven on Saturday, but Ants fans would be forgiven for wondering how they managed to not get anything from the match as they dominated almost the full game, the old adage if you don’t take your chances ringing true.

Vale of Leven took the lead in the third minute when a throw into the box found MacPherson who smashed the ball past Wallace in the Ants goal to put the Vale 1-0 ahead. The Ants almost equalised straight from the re-start but McLaughlin’s long range effort cannoned off the bar, then his follow up shot was well saved by Tiropoulous. Gordon then found Duncan in the box with a lovely chipped pass, his first touch was excellent but the finish less so with Tiropoulous again thwarting the Ants with a fine save with his body deflecting the ball over the bar.

The Ants were pushing for an equaliser and after 17 minutes Duncan again came close but again Tiropoulous was equal to the effort, getting down low to save and push the ball away from goal. Vale of Leven for their part went close when Craig found Stewart but his prodded effort at goal went wide. In the 21st minute the Vale doubled their advantage. A long diagonal ball by MacPherson sent Stewart scampering down the right hand side, he beat McManus to the ball and fired a teasing cross over the six yard box, Wallace was inches away from cutting the cross out but the ball found it’s way to the back post where Pilkington was standing unmarked and he fired high into the roof of the net to make it 2-0.

It would have been easy for Ants heads to go down given the way the match had went so far but they kept pushing for a goal and playing some lovely football. McLaughlin dragged a shot wide then a Duncan cross into the box ricocheted off a Vale defender and flew just past the post. The Ants front 3 were linking up well and a nice move almost pulled a goal back, Gordon slipped the ball to Duncan, who’s cross found Heron and he slipped the ball past the keeper but the angle was too actue and his cross back across goal came to nothing.

It was all one way traffic at this point and chances fell to McDonald, McLaughlin and Gordon with the goalkeeper coming out on top on each occasion. A goal was definitely coming and on the 46th minute it came, although not the way Ants fans had hoped given the chances they had, MacPherson fired a great free kick off the bar, and Pilkington was first to react as he headed home from a yard out completely unmarked two yards from goal. A kick in the teeth for the Ants as they went in at the break 3-0 down.

HALF TIME – VALE OF LEVEN 3 v 0 ANTS

The second half followed the same thread with The Ants dominating possession and having the lions share of the chances. Heron was next to try his luck in the 50th minute but once again Tiropoulous was equal to the effort making a fine diving save. Wallace had to be sharp off his line when he denied Craig and then McDonald was on hand to clear up the Vale attackers cross, the header found Wilson who passed to McLaughlin, The Ants midfielder sent a great pass through to Gordon who squared to Heron but his effort was pulled wide of the target and another chance had went begging.

The Ants pressure continued and Gordon was inches away with a header from Milarvies cross, his effort clipping the outside of the post on the way past, then Conway’s shot looked destined for the net but swerved just wide at the last minute. Still the Ants chased the goal to get them back in the match and it was McLaughlin’s turn to have an effort from distance but again his shot veered wide at the last minute.

Finally the Ants got the breakthrough their play deserved when McLaughlin’s shot was too hot for Tiropoulous to handle and it fell into the path of DAVID DONNELLY who made no mistake from six yards and after 66 minutes it was Vale of Leven 3 v 1 Ants. The Ants kept pressing to reduce the deficit to a single goal but Tiropoulous again made a fine save from McLaughlin with his feet then Gordon was an inch away from turning another McLaughlin effort into the net then Heron was again an inch away from heading Meechan’s whipped in cross. Unbelievably there was inches in it again as McLaughlin fired across the six yard box but Gordon and Donnelly couldn’t get on the end of the ball.

Time was running out as the Ants became more desperate and leaving gaps at the back and in the 90th minute Vale put the result beyond doubt when Stewart found MacPherson on the edge of the box and he slipped in McNaught to fire home past Wallace to put the home side 4-1 ahead. To their credit the Ants kept pushing and in the 91st minute reduced the deficit to two goals again when Meechan found CHRIS GORDON in the box and the hitman slammed the ball into the back of the net. It was too late though and the referee called time on a frustrating day for the Ants

FULL TIME VALE OF LEVEN 4 ( MacPherson 3, Pilkington 21, 46 McNaught 90) v 2 Ants (Donnelly 66, Gordon 91)

 

Saint Roch’s won the Mark Ritchie Memorial trophy at McKenna Park, running out 5-2 winners against the Ants. A Maguire hat-trick along with strikes from Irvine and McDonald for the visitors took the trophy despite Nyame and Heron getting their first goals for the Ants. More importantly the match raised £770 for the St Roch’s Foundation and was a great game of football. I’m sure the Big man would have been looking down on us all with a smile on his face.

 

The club are delighted to announce that The Boarding House is the new sponsor of our home strip. The popular Gastropub in Howwood will have their logo on the front of the hoops and we look forward to forging a great relationship with them.

They serve a wide range of food, including a kids menu and are open from 10am till 11pm Sun – Thurs and 10am till 1am Fri – Sat and parking is available on site. Have a look at their menu and get behind the guys that get behind the club.

Cmon The Ants!

The Boarding House Menus

The Ants slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Yoker at McKenna Park in the latest pre-season friendly but there were plenty of positives for the management to take from the performance against a side who had played in the Superleague the season just past. The Ants had probably the best of the chances in the first half with a double save from Wilson, first from Duncan, and then the follow up from Gordon the highlight of the half with Brennan and Milarvie also going close. Yoker themselves were limited to a couple of half chances but the teams went in at the break deadlocked at 0-0.

The second half got off to a flier from an Ants perspective as they took the lead with only 50 minutes on the clock, a great ball by McKay found Duncan who rounded the keeper and finished well to put the Ants 1-0 ahead. That lead lasted only ten minutes though when Maitland fired past Wallace with a great effort to level the scores. The Ants then had a number of chances before Yoker took the lead with 5 minutes to go, Maitland with another great finish giving Patrick no chance from 12 yards. Duncan had a great chance to level right on time up but he couldn’t direct his header and the match finished 2-1 to the visitors.

Another good work out for the Ants as the season draws nearer, Thanks to Yoker for the match and good luck to the Whe Ho for the rest of the season.

 

The exselgroup Sectional League Cup group stage fixtures were released tonight and the Ants start their competitive matches at home to Tony McInally’s Pollok side at McKenna Park on Wednesday August 2nd before their first away match see’s them travel the short distance to New Tinto Park for a Govan El Clasico against Benburb on Saturday the 5th. The full list can be found below –

(H) – Pollok – Wednesday 2nd August 18:45 Kick Off

(A) – Benburb – Saturday 5th August 14:00 Kick Off

(A) – Neilston – Saturday 12th August 14:00 Kick Off

(H) – Arthurlie – Wednesday 16th August 18:45 Kick Off

The club can tonight confirm the signing of Bridgewater AFC midfielder Chris Black. Chris was an integral part of the Bridgewater setup and won two league championships with them before narrowly missing out on a 3rd straight promotion in the play-off’s the season just past. At only 23 he has plenty of potential and we hope we can help him make the step up to Junior. Chris follows in his brothers footsteps in playing for the club as Graham was an Ants goalkeeper back in the 2011/12 season.

Great to have you on board Chris!

C’mon The Ants

The opening league fixtures for the McBookie Central District Second Division have been released and see the Ants travel to Millburn Park to play Vale of Leven on the opening day of the season. The first home league game of the season is the following week when Newmains come to McKenna Park. The full list is below

(All kick offs 2pm unless stated)

(A) Vale of Leven – 19th August 2017

(H) Newmains – 26th August 2017

(A) Ashfield – 2nd September 2017

(H) Dunipace – 9th September 2017

(A) Vale of Clyde – 16th September 2017

(H) Johnstone Burgh – 7th October 2017

(A) Carluke Rovers – 14th October 2017

The club are delighted to announce we have finalised a deal for veteran Yoker midfielder Mark McManus. Mark was at Holm Park for the past 8 years, five of those coming in the Super 1st and had spells at Rob Roy, Largs Thistle, Petershill, Rutherglen Glencairn and Maryhill since making the step up to the Juniors 15 years ago. His experience will hopefully prove invaluable and we look forward to seeing him in the hoops!

Welcome to the Ants Mark, Great to have you on board.

C’mon The Ants!!