The Ants are back in league action to kick off 2024 with the short visit to first foot Caledonian Locomotives at Petershill Park in the PDM Huws Gray West of Scotland Football League Second Division.

Both teams come into this one with Caley Loco’s on a 6 game unbeaten run in the league, their last defeat coming at home to runaway league leaders Ardrossan Winton Rovers back in September although they did lose 3-2 to Hurlford in their last game before the festive period. The Ants last league defeat also came at the hands of Ardrossan back in November with a 3 game unbeaten run put together since then.

There’s already been a meeting of the sides this season back in August at McKenna Park where a Kamil Leszczynski double, along with goals for Jonny McKay, John O’Hagan and Jack MacMurray scored for the Ants with Tyler Wright netting for Loco’s in a 5-1 win for The Ants.

Caledonian Loco’s currently sit in 4th place in the league having amassed 26 points from 14 games, with 8 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats and this see’s them 5 points ahead of The Ants with the same games played, The Ants having won 7, 3 draws and 4 defeats, but having being deducted 3 points, come into this one in 8th place.

It promises to be a New Year cracker at Petershill Park so why not come along and see who takes home the first 3 points of 2024

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

August 19, 2023 5 - 1 2023-24 McKenna Park N/A Saint Anthony’s FC vs Caledonian Locomotives FC

May 14, 2016 5 - 1 2015-16 Petershill Park N/A Rossvale vs Saint Anthony's

November 7, 2015 1 - 2 2015-16 McKenna Park N/A Saint Anthony’s vs Rossvale

A strong second half showing from the Ants brought us back into a match that few could have seen us take anything from at half time as we trailed Glasgow Uni 2-0 but goals from Craig Scott and Martin Mullaney saw us leave Airdrie with a point that on another day could have been all three.

Glasgow Uni got off to a flying start when Ewan McKinley capitalised on a poor pass from McGuire that was intercepted by a Glasgow Uni attacker and when the ball found McKinley he fired a shot off the underside of the bar and in from the edge of the box and with 18 minutes gone it was 1-0 to the home side. McKinley then doubled his and his teams tally 3 minutes later again capitalising on some sloppy passing and a bit of good fortune to make it 2-0 to the Students.

The Ants enjoyed a lot of the ball but couldn’t find the final pass or shot on target and the half finished at 2-0

Within 3 minutes of the start of the second half Craig Scott had reduced the deficit to a single goal when he made it 2-1 with a thunderbolt from a headed clearance from the edge of the box. The Ants totally dominated the second half but the Uni were still dangerous on the break and Bailey McGuire got down low to save on a couple of occasions. Just after the hour mark Martin Mullaney equalised for the Ants after good work by McKillop and Leszczynski down the right.

Carballo then had a fine effort saved and Mullaney also came close with a header just over the top. The Ants fans in the Excelsior thought we had taken all 3 points with a minute to go but Leszczynski’s effort went just the other side of the post and it finished 2-2

Glasgow University vs Saint Anthony’s FC

Video

Details

Date	Time	League	Season
August 23, 2023	8:00 pm	GreenVersity WoSFL Division Two	2023-24

Ground

Excelsior Stadium
Penny Cars Stadium, Craigneuk Avenue, Islay, Craigneuk, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML6 8QZ, United Kingdom

Results

Club	1st Half	2nd Half	Goals	Pens
Glasgow University	2	0	2	2
Saint Anthony’s FC	0	2	2	2

Saint Anthony’s FC

1	Bailey McGuire Goalkeeper
2	Mark McKillop Midfielder
3	Rui Carballo Midfielder
4	Craig Scott Defender	47'
5	Findlay Provan Midfielder
6	Johnny McKay Midfielder
7	Ian Eadie 19 Midfielder
8	Sam Muir Midfielder
9	Martin Mullaney Forward	62'
10	Jack MacMurray Midfielder
11	Kamil Leszczynski Forward
12	John O’Hagan Forward
14	Trialist1 Midfielder
15	Stephen McCulloch Forward
16	Adam Gibbons Midfielder
17	Craig Donaldson Midfielder
19	Graeme Crawford 7 Defender
18	Stephen Barnes Defender

The Ants put on a five star show at McKenna Park with a fine 5-1 win over Caledonian Locomotives Football Club in the PDM Huws Gray West of Scotland Football League second division.

We took the lead in the 9th minute when Jonny McKay ended a fine move that saw Ian Eadie cut the ball back and McKay thumped the ball home. Caley Loco’s equalised in the 25th minute capitalising on a defensive mistake and Tyler Wright rounded McGuire and just squeezed the ball home.

The Ants had 2 or 2 great chances after that before the break but we went in tied at 1-1 at the break.
The second half saw us regain the lead in the 57th minute when Kamil Leszczynski struck and it was 3-1 3 minutes later when Jack MacMurray tapped the ball into the empty net.

The Ants were playing some lovely stuff and in the 87th minute Leszczynski’s second of the match sealed the points before John O’Hagan put the cherry on the top with a 5th in the 92nd minute.

Full Time – Ants 5 v 1 Caley Loco’s

Saint Anthony’s FC vs Caledonian Locomotives FC

Video

Details

Date	Time	League	Season
August 19, 2023	2:00 pm	GreenVersity WoSFL Division Two	2023-24

Ground

McKenna Park
392 Shieldhall Rd, Glasgow G51 4JA, UK

Results

Club	1st Half	2nd Half	Goals	Pens
Saint Anthony’s FC	1	4	5	5
Caledonian Locomotives FC	1	0	1	1

Saint Anthony’s FC

1	Bailey McGuire Goalkeeper
2	Mark McKillop Midfielder
3	Keir McNair 12 Defender
4	Craig Scott Defender	11'
5	Findlay Provan 18 Midfielder
6	Johnny McKay Midfielder	9'
7	Ian Eadie 19 Midfielder
8	Sam Muir Midfielder
9	Martin Mullaney 15 Forward
10	Jack MacMurray Midfielder	60'
11	Kamil Leszczynski Forward	57', 87'
12	John O’Hagan 3 Forward	91'
14	Trialist1
15	Rui Carballo 9 Midfielder
16	Craig Donaldson Midfielder
17	Adam Gibbons Midfielder
18	Stephen Barnes 5 Defender
19	Graeme Crawford 7 Defender

The Ants made it two wins in a row with a fine 3-4 win away to Bonnyton Thistle at the Synergy Arena in the first ever matchup between the two sides.

The Ants were on the front foot from the kick off and that early pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Jack MacMurray put the Ants infront direct from a corner which deceived the Thistle defenders and keeper who couldn’t scramble the ball clear. It was double delight for the Ants in the 18th minute when last season’s top scorer Martin Mullaney notched his second of the season as he lashed the ball into the top corner after a fine cut back from Keir McNair.

Bonnyton didn’t waste long in a reply though and reduced the deficit to 1-2 in the 21st minute when a Kieran Murphy free kick found its way to the back post and Ben Wilson was unmarked to head home past McGuire. This boosted the home side and 11 minutes later they were level when goal provider turned goal scorer when Kieran Murphy fired home a long range free kick that beat McGuire much to the delight of the home fans.

Just before the break there was a golden opportunity for Bonnyton to take the lead when McGuire spilled a shot and upon trying to retrieve the ball took out a Bonnyton player and the ref pointed to the spot. Kyle McAvoy stepped up to take the kick but he was denied by McGuire who guessed the correct way to keep the ball out.

HALF TIME BONNYTON 2 v 2 ANTS

The second half was barely a minute old when we had the games 5th goal. Jack MacMurray started the move in his own half and after a good passing move Mullaney slid the youngster in and he made no mistake firing across McRoberts and into the net to restore the Ants lead. Both sides pressed for another goal and both looked equally dangerous going forward but it was The Ants who would get the next, and as it turned out crucial goal when Mullaney passed the ball back under pressure from two Bonnyton defenders into the path of Sam Muir who applied a stunning finish to give McRoberts no chance and put the Ants 2-4 ahead.

It looked like it was game over as we reached the 90th minute but life as an Ants fan is never that simple and when Aaron Fairbairn nodded home in the 91st minute you could have been forgiven for wondering if we would hold out. A couple of corners, including one where the Keeper came up were dealt with well by the Ants rearguard and the refs final whistle was music to the ears of the visiting fans.

FULL TIME BONNYTON 3 v 4 ANTS