The first Ants Ladies night is almost upon us, In partnership with Breakthrough Entertainment and Legacycomps and we can’t wait. We’ve got music from the amazing Laura B and our squad will be there as your waiters on the night. There will also be a few surprises throughout the night as you take to the dancefloor and get partying. A full buffet will be available so that you don’t go hungry through the night and its from 7pm – late. All this for only £10.
We are delighted to announce the Ant’s are now supporters of Legacycomps Prize Bonanza founded by St. Mirren FC legend Tony Fitzpatrick (see welcome video above from Tony).
Legacycomps Prize Bonanza is a competition website where you can win fantastic prizes from as little as 99p per ticket.
When you buy a ticket using backofthenet0002 code you do so in the knowledge this will help the Ant’s as we will receive vouchers for kit and equipment which will benefit the club!
Please use the simple steps below:
Finally, we would like to thank you all for your continued support and getting behind this fantastic new opportunity.
Good Luck!
Whether you are an avid fan of Scotland’s national team and back them to win every game they play, or place the odd acca on the weekend, ensuring you remain in control of your betting sessions is paramount.
In this guide, the most useful safe gambling strategies, tips, and tactics are discussed. So, if you’re trying to deal with a gambling problem or are concerned about a friend or family member’s gambling activities, the following information will help.
Responsible gambling help and advice
If you are passionate about remaining in control of your gambling, these tips will ensure you stay on the right track:
Signs of problem gambling
There are many signs that you are not gambling responsibly. These include:
Responsible gambling services
If you have taken the above tips on board and are still concerned about the amount of time and money you are spending then there are some responsible gambling services you can utilise. Many of these can be actioned via your chosen betting account.
Leading safe gambling charities and organisations
In the UK, we boast an incredible support network when it comes to gambling-related harm. If you are seeking professional help, the below organisations are there to aid you back to health and support you emotionally.
This responsible gambling guide has been provided by betting.bet; the UK online betting portal. Betting.bet is owned by Kontempry Ltd which also operates free bets platform, freebets.ltd.uk and online casino sites portal, casinosites.ltd.uk.
How many of us allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that , when we look closer, aren`t really that big an issue. We all tend to zoom in on little problems and concerns and let them explode out of all proportion.
An Every day example : someone might pull out in front of us in traffic.
In cold light of day, the best thing is to let it go but somehow we convince ourselves that our anger at their action is justified. We mull over it and run through an imaginary confrontation in our mind, perhaps even going on to tell others we meet that day about the incident rather than simply letting it go.
We should try to have some compassion for the person and remember how painful it is to be always in such a hurry. This way, we can maintain our own sense of well being and avoid taking other people`s problems personally.
There are of course many similar “small stuff “ issues that can occur in our every day lives:
Queuing, having to listen to unfair criticism, carrying a heavy workload while others get off lightly.
Try not to worry too much about small things, this drains our own life energy and camouflages the magic and beauty of life. Conserve our energy and allow it to help us be more kind and gentle to those around us
Rev. Brian
At our South Challenge Cup match v East Kilbride FC at McKenna Park, Match Secretary Felix McKenna got speaking to the EKFC Club Chaplain, which brought back into the forefront of his mind a presentation to the Junior Clubs a year or so earlier where SFA Chaplain Mark Fleming spoke of the usefulness of the Sports Chaplaincy service to the member clubs. Felix was keen to introduce the service to the Ants, but it was put on the backburner whilst some issues were ironed out. The conversation with the EKFC Chaplain saw Felix get back in touch with Mark and before long our chaplain was in place, so without further ado lets meet him, and find out what it is a club chaplain actually does!
Hi Team! I am Brian Mackenzie, a married father of three children, one of which made me Papa to two Grandsons. I live in Neilston but was brought up in Govan and left when I got married in 1987. I have spent my working life in International Transport and recently transferred to Social Care where I now support a man with Autism in his own flat.
I was ordained Permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church in 2011 and currently serve in parish of St Charles R C Church in Paisley. During my training and for two years after I also served in both Greenock and Kilmarnock Prisons as part time Chaplain, offering pastoral care to the prisoners.
Having noticed an advert for Football Chaplains in Sports Chaplaincy UK, I applied and was accepted by the SFA Chaplaincy team after completing the short Training Programme I was duly appointed to St Anthony`s in November 2020.
I am delighted to have been appointed to St Anthony`s and look forward to working with you all in the years to come.
SO, I hear you ask
What Does A Football Chaplain Do ???
1 ) Regularly interacts with Players ( 1 x weekly Training Session and home match day ).
2 ) Accept boundaries set in place by the Club ( I am there by Invitation NOT Imposition).
3 ) Address loneliness or homesickness.
4 ) Get alongside players who are injured or isolated.
5 ) Make themselves available to all Players, Management Staff, Coaching Staff and Committee with personal problems.
6 ) Support the mental wellbeing of all those within the Club.
7 ) Helps during bereavement and other crises.
8 ) Help people understand their identity outside of Football – see the person NOT JUST the player.
9 ) Follow up on players who have left the Club
10) Provide discipleship for Christian players who so desire it.
Obviously any conversations with me will remain confidential and no comments made will be disclosed to any other Club member. The only exception is if I see that there is a potential harm to person telling me something or potential that said person may then harm another.
Brian is going to be writing a regular feature on the club website which will cover a whole host of topics, so keep your eyes peeled for that
The club are delighted to announce a partnership with Sparta Goalkeeping which will see the Ants keepers summoning the spirit of the 300 to defend the Ants goal this season by sporting Sparta gloves and joining Team Sparta.
WHO ARE SPARTA
vs 
Saint Anthony’s FCA match that started so well for the Ants ended in disappointment as Lanark took all 3 points in a match where the Ants may feel they deserved more but lady luck deserted them and the wait for a league win continues.
It was all smiles within 3 minutes when the Ants took the lead, Bembo found Carballo on the left and his cross into the box saw Ewart put CAMMY LAWSON under pressure and the Lanark centre half diverted the ball past Hallford and into the net to make it 1-0 to the Ants. This should have buoyed the Ants on but they seemed to go into their shell a bit inviting Lanark onto them and in the 18th minute the visitors were level. An Ants free kick was won in the air by a Lanark midfielder who headed it to KIERAN BRANNAN, he flicked it to Martin who then played the striker through on goal and he hit a first time shot past Perry into the back of the net to level the scoring at 1-1. There wasn’t much happening in terms of chances with Lanark having a couple of half chances and Gallacher pulling a shot wide for the Ants until the 35th minute when Barclay’s cross/shot was saved by the feet of Perry and the rebound came off McCluskey but luckily for Saints it dropped the right side of the post and out for a goal kick. Two minutes later the Ants almost levelled when the ball pinged around the home teams penalty box, Bembo flicked the ball towards goal but it went inches wide. The goal that made all the difference arrived in the 43rd minute when a ROSS BARCLAY cross into the box was misjudged by Perry and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
HALF TIME LANARK 2 (BRANNAN 18, BARCLAY 43) v 1 (LAWSON (OG) 3) ANTS
The second half saw a much more positive approach from the Ants, Ndlovu having a shot go over from just outside the box in the opening minutes of the half. The Ants thought they had the equaliser in the 53rd minute but Crawfords free kick cannoned back off the bar and was cleared to the halfway line, Trialist A done well to win the ball back and set Carballo free, who made a great run to the byline and got his cross in but it was also headed to safety and the chance was gone. It was pretty much all Ants now with Lanark playing on the break, but despite their best efforts they couldn’t grab the goal they needed, Crawford went close with a deep cross that almost ended up in the net and Trialist A had a great header equally well saved by Hallford.
Lanark then had a good chance after 72 minutes but Perry saved well from Brannan and then Gallacher got a brilliant block in to deny the Lanark striker from the resultant corner. Littler then had a great chance in the 75th minute when he got on the end of a Crawford corner but his header lacked direction and went wide of the post. Debutant Mohamed Alsarmi went on a mazy run that almost seen the winger through on goal but he slipped on the heavy pitch and just failed to get on the end of a ball he’d knocked past a defender and Hallford was out well to gather. Ciaran Smith then put Crawford through on goal but the ball jumped up just as he was about to strike it and he blazed over the crossbar. Perry then denied Brannan with a fine diving save as the Ants got hit on the counter trying to claw their way level but it wasn’t to be, a final chance for Burns going over the bar after another promising run from Alsarmi teed up the striker but he leaned back and the shot failed to hit the target.
A disappointing result ahead of this Saturday’s SoccerShop Challenge Cup 2nd round tie at home to Lowland League East Kilbride.
Speaking to the Ants media team after the match Ants manager Danny Taylor had this to say “I thought we started the game well enough, then stopped playing and let Lanark back into the match. We pushed hard for the equaliser in the second half but just couldn’t get it, Individual errors are killing us just now but we’ll keep working hard to rectify this”
FULL TIME LANARK 2 (BRANNAN 18, BARCLAY 43) v 1 (LAWSON (OG) 3) ANTS
ROGUE MONKEY DIGITAL MEDIA MAN OF THE MATCH – SHAUN GALLACHER
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 14, 2020 | 1:45 pm | PDM Buildbase WOSFL Conference C | 2020-21 |
| Club | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanark United | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Saint Anthony’s FC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
vs 
East Kilbride ThistleMcKenna 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
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 7, 2020 | 2:00 pm | PDM Buildbase WOSFL Conference C | 2020-21 |
| Club | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Anthony’s FC | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| East Kilbride Thistle | 1 | 1 | 2 |
vs Saint Anthony’s FCThe Ants advanced into the 2nd round of the SoccerShop Challenge cup after finally seeing off an Irvine Vics side who came back from 3-1 down in the final 15 minutes of normal time to draw the match 3-3, with the Ants triumphing 5-3 on penalties as new the new management team took charge of their first competitive match in charge.
It was the Ants who took the lead after only five minutes, when Ndlovu got on the end of a Patrick kick out, he knocked the ball on ahead of himself then a deft touch put the ball into the path of ROBBIE EWART, who will go down in Ants history as the scorer of our first ever goal in “Senior” football, and he made no mistake firing past Taylor. A short pass back then sent Bembo scampering through on goal, but as Taylor advanced the Ants striker tried a cute little lob which went just past the post. The Ants had the bit between their teeth in the opening exchanges, buoyed by the goal, and a nice move down the left saw Bembo and Ndlovu combine and the latter cross the ball to Carballo, the youngster slipped past his marker and found Ewart but he couldn’t generate enough power in his shot on the turn and Taylor held easily. Despite the Ants enjoying the lions share of the opening fifteen minutes they were handed a warning when Martins got on the end of a well delivered corner but he could only head past the post and the chance was gone. The Ants did soon make their pressure pay when Bembo found Ewart, who cut inside and fired a shot at goal which was beaten away by Taylor but EVA BEMBO was quickest to react inside the box and he fired the ball into the net with 19 minutes on the clock to make it 2-0 to the delight of the small number of Ants committee who had made the trip to the seaside. The two teams settled down and despite half chances at either end there was nothing of note to report until the 35th minute when DANIEL MARTINS got his head to a free kick that had been swung into the box and put the ball into the net past Patrick to reduce the deficit to a single goal. Given a boost by the goal Vics started to come into the game more and Connor came close when he was put through on goal but he tried to chip Patrick and didnt connect properly and the Ants keeper held easily then Watupa fired a short a yard or two past the post.
HALF TIME – IRVINE VICS 1 (MARTINS 35) v 2 ANTS (EWART 5, BEMBO 19)
The second half saw the Ants take the front foot and Tran and Conway combined well at a throw in, the former didn’t catch his cross correctly but it somehow found Carballo although the youngster couldn’t generate sufficient power as he spun and shot and Taylor gathered. The Ants did regain their two goal advantage in the 52nd minute. Ants U20s captain, Rui Carballo, making his first team competitive debut knocked the ball one way past his marker and then went round him on the other, raced onto his own knock on and raced towards the edge of the penalty box, his pinpoint pass avoided the attentions of Martins and landed at the feet of EVA BEMBO who grabbed his second and the Ants third. With just over an hour played Carballo swung in a corner that Conway just failed to get on the end of and the ball took a deflection and landed in the six yard box but Taylor was brave, diving onto the loose ball as Bembo closed in for his hat-trick. Bembo came within inches again of scoring his third of the day in the 68th minute. Conway sent Carballo scampering down the wing again where he was tackled by a Vics defender, but he showed great tenacity to win the ball back before crossing into the path of the aforementioned Bembo who just couldnt get a touch as the ball shot across the face of goal and cleared to safety. Patrick had so far had very little to do in the Ants goal during the second half but that all changed in the 75th minute when a cross into the box was flicked home by BRIAN CONNOR to give the home side some belief. The striker was then clean through at an angle but his effort only found the side netting and the Ants remained a goal ahead, that was until the 79th minute, Patrick came for a corner and punched it to just outside the box, the ball was played back in and BRIAN CONNOR beat Patrick to the ball before knocking the ball into the net to equalise. With no further scoring we headed to extra time
FULL TIME – IRVINE VICS 3 (MARTINS 35, CONNOR 75,79) v 3 ANTS (EWART 5, BEMBO 19, 52)
Extra time was a cagey affair with both sides tiring on the heavy Victoria Park surface with the only chances of note seeing efforts disallowed. Connor had the ball in the net for Vics but was judged offside after 103 minutes and then controversy reigned as the Ants thought they had won it in the 112th minute. A throw in from Littler was headed into his own net by Robb, but the man in the middle adjudged there to have been a foul by Bembo, which the video suggests is an incredibly harsh call, and we went to penalties.
Anton Conway, Rui Carballo, Ndjabulo Ndlovu and Danny Smith all netted for the Ants whilst the opening 3 Vics penalties were scored but the fourth taken by Sam McKee was saved by Patrick to give EVA BEMBO the opportunity to win it and he made no mistake sending Taylor the wrong way and earning the Ants a 2nd round tie against Lowland League high fliers East Kilbride FC in November at McKenna Park
ANTS MAN OF THE MATCH SPONSORED BY ROGUE MONKEY DIGITAL MEDIA – RUI CARBALLO
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2020 | 1:30 pm | South Challenge Cup | 2020-21 |
| Club | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine Victoria | 1 | 2 | 3 (3) |
| Saint Anthony’s FC | 2 | 1 | 3 (5) |
As we build up to the season starting in earnest tomorrow we caught up with Ants captain Anton Conway and spoke about the forthcoming season, and used our new Random Question Generator.
ANTS WEBSITE (AW) – Theres been a fair amount of upheaval, uncertainty and obviously the whole COVID issue for the past few months, Hows the mood in the squad as we finally approach the opening game of the season with the new management team in place?
Anton Conway (AC) – We have the first game on Saturday and the squad are finally looking forward to starting the season. Think everyone is fed up talking about COVID and will we/won’t we play, the boys just want to get going. we played on Friday night and their was lots of positive to take from it so think everyone is looking forward to starting.
AW – How has pre-season went?
AC – Pre season has been the longest ever, we started with the 5k challenges during lockdown. We then started training again in small groups and only been recently that we have been training together due to the restrictions. We have had a few games with results not the best but been lot of changes due to players coming in. We played Perthshire on Friday and all the boys done well with few really impressing. We still have a large squad which is good for competition. But with new management in the last few weeks the tempo has increased in training
AW – You are in your 7th season with the club, what is it about the Ants that has seen you ply your trade here so long?
AC – 7th season already? Why do I stay? Because nobody else will take me 😂😂😂 2 player of the year awards and still here 🙈
Seriously though, I enjoy it at the Ants and for me it’s the people that make you want to play for the club. It’s a really family club and will do anything they can to help. I missed almost all of last year with an ACL injury so I am looking forward to get back on the pitch
AW – This season there is no promotion or relegation and theres issues with no changing facilities or fans in at the moment, how has this affected you and the rest of the squad?
AC – The no promotion this season will help the club this season as will give the new management time to build a team and hopefully challenge next year.
Don’t think most players across the conferences will say they are happy with no changing rooms but small sacrifices are needed to help get football back. Hopefully this will be looked at and will be put back in place.
AW – An away tie to Irvine Vics to open the season in the Cup with the winners playing your home town club East Kilbride in the second round, how much of an incentive is a plum tie like that waiting in the next round?
AC – Irvine Vics will be tough fixture as they were a few devisions above us last year and they are at home which would make them favourites but the boys are more than confident about going down there and winning the game. Playing East Kilbride would be a great test for this new squad. East Kilbride have signed some really good players and the boys would look forward to testing themselves. Personally I know 3/4 of the players and in particular Chris Erskine who has just signed from Livingston so would be good to play against Chris and hopefully cause an upset
AW – There has been massive debate over clubs playing or not playing this season. Do you feel the club has made the right decision in continuing to play?
AC – Personally I think the club made the right decision as I think some of the clubs who have pulled out will struggle to attract boys back as players will move on or even take extra shifts in work. The boys at the ants are delighted to be playing and looking forward to the season ahead
Thats the serious stuff out the way, now its time for our Randomly generated questions –
AW – What’s getting worse and worse as you get older? What’s getting better and better as you get older?
AC – What’s getting worse? Well surely I can’t get any slower? But am sure some of the committee think I am 😂😂. What’s getting better? Not a clue that’s a question for the manager
AW – How many chickens would it take to kill an elephant?
AC – None, Can’t see any amount of chickens being able to kill an elephant!
AW – If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
AC – Super Speed, I’ve never been blessed with pace, so it would be nice to actually go fast
AW – Lastly, What’s the most ridiculous fact you know?
AC – Ridiculous fact? Not too sure if this counts but I know Graeme Crawford’s dog has more followers on social media than he does!
Big thanks to Anton for that insight into the mood in the camp ahead of the season kicking off, and for answering our random questions!
