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  Neilston 4 v 2 Saint Anthony's

While it is very easy to make excuses and scapegoats of match officials you should have been at Neilston on Saturday. Thankfully a referee supervisor was at hand to witness some woeful decision by all the officials present and I'm sure they will get marked accordingly.

The visitor started brightly enough but it was Neilston who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a mis-hit shot by Farquharson was deflected and despite Turner's brave attempt to save trundled over the line. Saints replied with a Williams effort that was pushed away by the 'Keeper. 10 then created a good chance but the ball drifted past the post. A Mulheron shot rebounded off the crossbar then Callaghan raced onto a pass that struck a defender but the female official waited until he had reached the 18 yard box before putting up her flag. If the Ants felt hard done by worse was to follow in the 40th minute when Donaghy and 10 both chased a long pass as the Ants defender was about to clear he was pushed over by 10 who then fell over him. The whistle sounded for what was clearly a free kick to the Ants but the referee amazingly awarded a penalty  and when the protests ended Smith gave Turner little chance with a well placed a kick.

Two minutes after the interval Mulheron came close with a header then McEwan brought another save from the 'keeper as he went through on goal. Despite enjoying most of the possession Saints fell further behind when Smith blasted a 25 yard shot past Turner for 3-0. The home side now looked more relaxed and began to play some neat passing football and got a fourth albeit from an offside decision but the female official refused to raise her flag which meant that for the entire second half not a single offside decision was met by her raising her flag, a fact that didn't go un-noticed by the ref either. With 15 minutes left Saints got a decision when a penalty was awarded for handball, McMillan made no mistake from the spot. The final minutes were dominated by Saints and Mansare reduced the deficit to 4-2 when he headed home a Williams corner. It was almost 4-3 but Marshall shot from close range was cleared off the line. Shame an entertaining game was spoiled by such poor officials.

Ants Team - Turner, Keyes, Donaghy, McDonald, Mansare, Miller, Williams, Hare (Marshall 65,) Callaghan (McMillan 65), Mulheron (McCuish 65), McEwan

Subs not used - Donald, Howley

Man of the Match - Abou Mansare