The Ants league match away to Lesmahagow has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Our next game is now at home to Muirkirk next Saturday

The Ants fell to their fourth successive defeat in the cruelest of fashions on Saturday when a controversial 94th minute penalty saw Muirkirk take all three points at a wet and windy Burnside Park.

Both teams were looking for their first three points of the season and it was Muirkirk who made the breakthrough in the 16th minute when a Baxter cross was met by DAVID EDWARDS who headed beyond McCallum to put the home side ahead. They had their keeper to thank for them keeping their lead in the 23rd minute when Crawford found space in the box but Bogle saved well with his feet and the ball went out for a inswinging corner from Crawford that a was headed away to safety by a defender as it headed goalbound. Howie then came close for the home side but his headed went just over the bar. The game was really opening up and Nicholson got on the end of a corner but his header came back off the bar then Taylor had a shot deflected wide for the Ants then McIlavney did well to flick a ‘Kirk long throw over the bar. Crawford was causing all manner of problems on the left for Muirkirk and another good cross just missed the head of Kelly who fell on the ground, as he did the ball rebounded off the face of a Muirkirk defender but despite swinging a leg at it the Ants forward couldn’t get anything behind his effort and Bogle gathered easily.

The game was stop start as the ref blew for fouls regularly and from one of these fouls Howie tested McCallum but the shot was straight at the goalkeeper and he held on. Muirkirk really should have been taking a two goal lead into the break when Edwards was sent through on goal, he rounded McCallum and squared the ball to Campbell six yards out, The midfielder just had to pick his spot but he dithered and this allowed Littler to save the day for the Ants with a tremendous tackle.

The Ants came out fired up for the second half and another Crawford corner saw Mark McIlvanney head just over the bar then Taylor was sent through on goal by Ball, but the midfielder saw his effort well saved by the legs of Bogle. Muirkirk still looked dangerous going forward and Howie got on the end of corner but his header was saved by McCallum then another Campbell delivery was headed just over. The Ants almost got an equaliser courtesy of a defensive mix up when Bogle threw the ball to his full back who played the ball back to the keeper, John Ball had by this stage closed the keeper down and blocked his clearance. but as they raced to get the ball the ref blew for a foul on the keeper.

Still the Ants couldn’t find the elusive equaliser when McCallum’s kick out saw Ball pressure former Ants man Neossi into a mistake and the Ants frontman found Kelly who shot from the end of the box but Neossi recovered well to get a foot on the shot and divert it out for a corner. In the 70th minute the Ants got the equaliser they deserved when Littler’s long throw found GRAEME CRAWFORD unmarked in the 6 yard box and he fired into the net past Bogle to make it 1-1 much to the delight of the travelling Ants fans and committee.

The Ants equaliser seemed to bring Muirkirk to life and McCallum had to produce an excellent save when McVey flicked the ball goalwards but the Ants keeper got a good hand to it and pushed it wide of his far post. Another ball into the box caused problems for the Ants and McVey again got on the end of it but his looping header hit the bar and was hacked to safety. McCallum had to be at his best again when a Campbell shot was deflected into the path of Conlon at the back post but the Keeper produced another fine save to deny the home side the lead. The 94th minute saw the controversial penalty award when McVey was sent through on goal, McCallum came out to narrow the angle as Nicholson also raced back and the ‘Kirk sub went down, Mr Timmons pointed to the spot and DAVID EDWARDS showed great composure sending McCallum the wrong way from the spot to make the full time score Muirkirk 2 v 1 Ants.

Ants website man of the match –

The Ants are still looking for their first points of the new season after slipping to their third single goal defeat in three games. The Ants were looking to bounce back from the defeat at Ashfield but within 3 minutes they were a goal behind when EWAN FARRELL’S through ball found Roddy Watupa who raced through on goal and sent McCallum the wrong way with a drive into the keeper’s right hand corner to give the visitors the lead.

The Ants almost equalised four minutes later when McLaughlin broke into the box but his shot from a tight angle didn’t have enough curl on it and it flew across the goalmouth and out for a goal kick then from a short corner McLaughlin again tested Moore but the shot was straight at the big keeper and he held on well. The Ants were pressing for an equaliser but you always felt that Saltcoats could still cause problems with their pace and movement up front, although McCallum gathered easily from an Abdullah free kick. McIlvanney then raced towards the visitors box after being played in by McLaughlin but he fired over the bar.John Ball was next to test the visiting keeper but he did well to get down and hold onto the ball. Saltcoats still looked dangerous and McCallum was first tested from wide but he held on well then the visitors had a strong penalty claim waived away when the ball hit Conway’s forearm but the ref waived play on. Right on the stroke of half time came arguably the Ants best chance of the half when a McLaughlin cross was knocked down by Littler into the path of Conway but he couldnt get enough power or direction on his volley and Moore saved easily.

The Ants started the second half and a fine move saw Mark McIlvanney break into the box but the young midfielder’s shot was held by Moore, Saltcoats had made a change at the break as Kasongo replaced Petzke and the sub almost had a quick impact, a fine move saw them carve open the Ants defence but Kasongo’s show was saved by the legs of McCallum who then gathered the ball at the second attempt. A long kick out by Moore saw Bembo challenge McCallum for the ball and the ref adjudged the challenge to be fair as the Saltcoats player manager headed towards goal but luckily for the Ants the ball went just past the post. A long diagonal ball from McLaughlin found Ball at the back post but the strikers shot went high and wide.

Saltcoats doubled their lead in the 56th minute when Littlers headed clearance from the corner was picked up by EWAN FARRELL who’s half volley beat McCallum low to the keeper’s left to put the visitors 2-0 up. Saltcoats were clearly buoyed by the goal and had their best spell of the game with a few good chances, Firstly when nice play between Watupa and Bamba saw the latter test McCallum but the Ants keeper beat the ball away to keep the Ants in the match then a corner was headed just wide before Farrell had shot held by McCallum. The Ants started to slowly regain their composure following the 2nd goal and Gallacher headed just wide from a Gamba cross. In the 66th minute the Ants were handed a lifeline when CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN was fouled inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. The Ants captain dusted himself off and put the spot kick into the bottom corner to reduce the defecit to 2-1. McLaughlin then fizzed a ball across the goalmouth but there were no takers and the chance was gone. Nicholson then rose highest in the box but his header went wide before McLaughlin had an effort from the edge of the box which was always rising and went over.

Time was running out for the Ants who had started to throw caution to the wind in the search for the equaliser and they were caught on the break when EVARISTE BEMBO broke through the Ants defence and slotted past McCallum in the 92nd minute to put the game finally beyond the Ants and make it 3-1 to the visitors. The Ants to their credit didn’t give up and JOHN BALL got his 2nd in two games when he headed home from a long throw but it was too little to late for the Ants who now travel to Muirkirk looking to kickstart their season.

Ants Website Man of the Match –

The Ants slipped to their 2nd consecutive league defeat as Ashfield took all three points at the Peugeot Ashfield Stadium last night. The players were looking to bounce back following the opening day defeat to Lesmahagow and they got off to a dream start, a Mark McIlvanney cross into the box was headed goalwards by the returning Chris Gordon and Mullen made a great save with his feet but JOHN BALL was on hand to lash the rebound into the net after only six minutes.

Former Ants man Billy Stevenson then had a great chance to equalise when he got on the end of a Lynch cross but McCallum was out quickly to narrow the angle and the big striker couldn’t hit the target.  The Ants had a great chance to double their lead in the 14th minute when McIlvanney jumped highest in the box from a corner but the midfielder’s header went inches wide. Ashfield were direct in their approach and it was proving to be effective as Stevenson’s height was causing the Ants rearguard some problems and in the 24th minute proved too much for them to deal with as the big man flicked on a Mullen free kick into the path of GRAEME HEARTON  who lashed the ball past McCallum to level the scores at 1-1.

Five minutes later the Ants almost regained the lead, a lovely move involving Bain, Mark McIlvanney, and Chris Gordon saw the latter try and catch the Ashfield keeper out but his chip was tipped over the bar by the giant keeper. It was the Ants keeper who was next to be tested when Lynch’s header found Stevenson who volleyed goalwards forcing McCallum to produce a great diving save to keep the scores level then from the resultant corner Stevenson saw his effort cleared off the line by Gamba. Not to be outdone, Mullen in the Ashfield goal produced a similarly good save to deny Ants captain Conway who had struck from just outside the box but there was to be no further scoring before the break and they went in tied at 1-1 at half time.

Stevenson was still proving to be a thorn in the Ants side in the second half and he must have been wondering what he had to do to get on the scoresheet when he just failed to connect properly to a Hadden cross at the back post in the 52nd minute. Both teams were pressing for the next goal and the Ants thought they had it when McIlvanney found Ball but his shot went just wide. In the 55th minute Ashfield got the goal that would prove to be the winner. McCallum’s goal kick was aimed towards McIlvanney who’s jump was impeded by Friel, the ball broke to Gordon, who also appeared to be tripped by Friel but the Ref saw nothing wrong with either challenge and the ball was boomed forward to Parker, his pin point cross found GRAEME HEARTON  who headed in from 2 yards out to put the home side a goal infront at 2-1.

Parker then came close with direct from a corner which appeared to be taken well outside the D but McCallum got an hand to it. Lynch then went close again as Ashfield started to turn the screw a bit although the Ants did go close from a Gordon free kick which had Mullen scrambling, Parker then went close and Hearton was stopped in his tracks with a great tackle on the edge of the box as he raced in on goal for his hat-trick. The Ants then had a claim for a penalty waived away when Mullen came charging out and went in for a 50-50 with John Ball, neither player touched the ball and it appeared the keeper had caught the Ants striker but the ref saw it the other way and gave a free kick to the home side. Stevenson still continued to torment his former club and almost set Hearton up for his third of the game but McCallum produced a great save diving bravely and spreading himself to deny the striker. The ref played seven minutes of injury time where the Ants pressed for the equaliser but to no avail and Ashfield ran out 2-1 winners.

Ants Website Man of the Match –

The Ants league campaign didn’t get off to the start they were looking for when Lesmahagow came visiting to McKenna Park. The match finished 1-0 to the visitors when Steven Clark scored with a great strike after only 5 minutes. The Ants had a number of chances in the first half, however the Gow could feel the winning margin could have been more when they missed two penalties in two minutes in the second half but it finished 0-1 and the Ants move on to Wednesday night away to Ashfield

Ants Website Man of the Match –

 

 

The Ants chances of qualifying from the sectional league cup group 7 took what looks like a fatal blow as Renfrew boosted their own chances with a 4-0 victory at McKenna Park. Both sides had got off to winning starts with 1-0 victories, the Ants against Greenock and Renfrew against Port Glasgow and the winner of the tie would be favourites to advance. Renfrew took the lead in the 13th minute when DARREN JONES fired the visitors infront at the back post.

The Ants looked to get back into the game and Nicholson stung the palms of McLeay with a drive from just outside the box, then McLaughlin had an effort from distance but the shot was straight at the visiting keeper. Both sides cancelled each other out in the midfield for large portions of the first half with half chances for both sides but it was Renfrew who went in a goal to the good at the break.

The start of the second half saw The Ants have their best spell of the match as they pushed for an equaliser with a couple of half chances, Ball failed to connect properly with a ball to the back post and the chance was gone, then McLaughlin had an effort go past the post. The Ants team captain then almost set up the equaliser when his free kick was inches away from the head of McKnight but the Ants striker couldn’t get on the end of it. As the game wore on Renfrew started to turn the screw and it was backs against the wall for the Ants after 72 minutes when former Ants player KIERON MAXWELL was played through on goal, he rounded McCallum and slotted home to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out the Ants and they had McCallum to thank for keeping the scoreline down with a number of good saves including a stunning save from a header when a goal looked inevitable however he could do nothing when CRAIG DALLAS made it 3-0 to the visitors with a fine finish. Five minutes before the end it was 4-0 when another old Ants player THOMAS MILLER rose at the edge of the box to head home from a corner although the Ants defenders on the line may feel they could have done better as the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net.

A tough result for the Ants who matched the Premiership side for a large portion of the match and they can be pleased with the work rate and effort they put into the game but Renfrew’s quality eventually shone through and they ran out deserved winners.

Ants Website Man of the Match –

 

 

The Ants sectional league cup campaign came to an end tonight with defeat at Parklea against Port Glasgow with a Jasper Donnelly goal after 36 minutes the difference between the sides. The Ants gameplan took a blow in the 19th minute when Ronnie Nicholson had to go off injured and Jack McIlvaney came on in his place. The Ants fashioned the first real chance of the half when some lovely footwork by McLaughlin saw him beat a couple of defenders and then chip the goalkeeper but a great bit of defending saw the ball headed off the line when a goal looked certain. The Port took the lead in the 36th minute when JASPER DONNELLY put the ball past Patrick from close range despite the keepers best efforts to tip the ball over the bar but it looped into the net and the Port took the lead into the half time break.

The second half saw the Port almost double their lead straight from the restart, Dylan McLaughlin showed great pace when put through on goal but his effort flashed inches wide of Patrick’s far post. Two minutes later had another chance to have doubled their lead but Patrick made a great save with his legs and the ball was cleared to safety. The Ants nearly responded in the best possible fashion with an audacious lob from the halfway line that had Port keeper Beaton scrambling back and he just managed to grab the ball on the line.  The game was flowing from end to end and Sean McLaughlin should have done much better for the Port when he found space in the box for a free header but he didn’t manage to hit the target and headed over.  There was a bit of controversy in the 65th minute when Ants striker Ball took the ball past the keeper only to have his shirt pulled, as he fell the keeper dived through the back of the Ants man and then when he tried to get back up was tugged at again but the man in the middle deemed Beaton had played the ball and waved play on and the Port held on to take all 3 points

Ants Website Man of the Match –

 

Ants newly appointed team captain, player and joint players player of the year Chris “Mooch” McLaughlin has officially extended his McKenna park stay by putting pen to paper on a deal to lead the players on the park next season. John Kelly is delighted to have him back on board “When Mooch found out I was taking over at the Ants he was the 1st player who wanted to extend his stay at McKenna Park. He had offers from other clubs but he has shown tremendous loyalty staying put and it is a big statement made by the club re-signing him. His leadership skills are excellent and thats why I made him team captain”