A Ralph Gamba strike in the 90th minute gave the Ants all three points in the match-up between second and third in the league, an outcome that seemed unlikely when Ashfield equalised with four minutes to go against the 10 men of the Ants who had seen Chris McLaughlin sent off for a second booking.

The Ants made a couple of changes to the side that saw off Annbank with Tony Curran coming in for his second start of the season at the expense of Sean Patrick and Michael Milarvie took the place of Ross McDougall who got injured in the warm up, himself having being brought into the side to replace David Donnelly.

The first half finished goalless with Ashfield having the better of the chances and a strong claim for a penalty waived away but it was the Ants who started the second period the brighter and they took the lead in the 66th minute. CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN beat Moulangou to the ball in a 50-50 and then ran towards the Ashfield goal before unleashing a dipping shot which flew past Catterson from fully 30 yards and nestled into the right hand corner of the net.

Ashfield took advantage of McLaughlin’s red card in the 86th minute when a throw in eventually found it’s way to JOSH BOYD at the end of the Ants box and his deflected shot found the back of the net. Earlier in the season the Ants had beaten Ashfield with a winner in the 5th minute of injury time when Anton Conway fired in from a throw in and lightening was to strike again however this time it was RALPH GAMBA who was the hero for the Ants. Andy Scanlan found Brian Henderson from a quick throw in and he put in a cross from the byline which found Gamba a yard out and he fired the ball into the net to send the Ants fans wild.

A fine win which showed the fighting spirit of the team and they will hopefully extend their winning streak to three in a row when Carluke come to town next week.

The Ants have always traditionally struggled at Westfield Park, however a Chris Gordon double after Graeme Crawford opened the scoring meant that they left Denny with all three points and stayed at the top of the Division 2 pile for another week.

The Ants opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, Chris Gordon broke free and ran at the ‘Pace defence who backed off, before an attempted tackle saw the ball head towards the byline, but credit to the Ants top scorer he showed great desire to reach the ball before it went out and crossed to find GRAEME CRAWFORD at the back post who gave Robertson no chance with a fine volley from six yards. The Ants didn’t waste much time in adding to their tally when in the 31st minute they went 2-0 in front. A McLaughlin corner found Boyle at the back post and the debutants shot was turned into the net by CHRIS GORDON much to the delight of the visiting Ants fans and committee.

Right on the stroke of half time they dealt the home side what proved to be a fatal blow when Robertson failed to deal with a McLaughlin free kick, Donnelly knocked it to the back post where Boyle picked it up and his cross was knocked into the goal by CHRIS GORDON for his second and the Ants third of the match.

The second half saw the Ants play on the break for the most part protecting their three goal advantage however you could have forgiven the Ants fans for getting a little nervy when CALLUM HEEPS reduced the deficit to two goals when he fired past Patrick from just outside the box. The Ants defended well though and Patrick remained relatively untested for the remainder of the half for the Ants to run out 3-1 winners.

Ants Website Man of the Match – ANTHONY DEMPSEY

The Ants made it four games unbeaten in the league yesterday at the John Cumming stadium with a fine 3-1 vAntictory against Carluke. JONNY STEPHEN opened the scoring after 7 minutes before IAN WATT equalised for the home side, but CHRIS GORDON put the Ants back in front after 28 minutes then sealed the points from the spot after 84 minutes.

Ants Website Man of the Match – Anthony Dempsey

The Ants took all three points at home to Johnstone Burgh as two CHRIS GORDON strikes either side of a GARY NUGENT strike for the visitors saw the Ants win 2-1.

The Ants made it 3 wins in a row after a fine 2-0 win as Dunipace visited McKenna Park on Saturday. We had to shuffle the pack once again as injuries and holidays forced the management into more changes following the last minute win away to Ashfield, Ross McDougall came in for Donnelly, Andy Scanlan came back in to the side for McManus, Gamba replaced Adam Dougan and Dean McKay made his first league start of the season.

It was Dunipace who threatened first when McGrandles through ball found Hughes, The Ants defence claimed for offside but the ref ignored the pleas. Wallace was quick off his line to narrow the angle and force the ‘Pace striker wide, McPherson latched onto the ball and cut it back to the aforementioned Hughes but his shot was excellently blocked by McDougall and out for a corner, then Wallace did well to tip the resultant corner over the top of the bar. McKay and Heron linked up well moments later when the winger found Heron but his cross was nicked off the head of Duncan by Rodger.

The Ants were starting to gather a bit of momentum now and almost took the lead in the 12th minute, Conway won a header in the middle of the park and knocked the ball down to McLaughlin, his little flick through found MIlarvie who raced through on goal but his shot was saved down low by Robertson and cleared by Rodger who gathered the rebound before Duncan could latch on to the loose ball. The Ants were starting to control the game and looked the most likely to open the scoring and that turned out to be the case in the 22nd minute. McKay was bundled down right on the edge of the box and from the resultant free kick CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN grabbed his second goal in two games as he fired past Robertson to put the Ants into the lead. Despite their dominance the Ants almost found themselves clawed back onto level terms but Rodger put his header just past the post and the Ants faithful breathed a sigh of relief.

This close shave gave Dunipace a lift and they had their best spell of the match for the next five or so minutes trying to knock the ball about but only created one chance when Hughes fired over from a McPherson flick on. The home side then went close when Heron fired just over from the edge of the box then Duncan headed inches over the top. As half time approached Heron almost found Duncan after a good run down the left wing, he cut inside but his pass was intercepted by McGlinchie and cleared to safety. Right on half time Stephenson cut inside, his shot was partially blocked but found it’s way to Grant just outside the box but the ‘Pace full back fired over and the Ants went in a goal to the good at half time.

HALF TIME ANTS 1 v 0 DUNIPACE

The Ants came out in a bullish mood and were right onto the front foot, a flowing move down the right hand side saw Gamba’s cross into the box blocked for a corner, McLaughlin swung the ball in and found it’s way tot he back post but McLean couldn’t keep his shot down and it remained 1-0 to the Ants. McDougall then sent Duncan through on goal as he beat the offside trap to bear down on Robertson’s goal, but as he went to shoot Rodger made a great tackle to deny the Ants striker and the chance was gone. In the 67th minute the Ants finally doubled their lead. McLean stole the ball in the middle of the park and charged forward, then slipped the ball to Milarvie, his cross found JACK HERON who adjusted his body well to volley past Robertson and give the Ants a two goal cushon. Duncan then had the chance to put the result beyond any doubt when he did well to rob a ‘Pace defender and raced through on goal, he tried to round the keeper but got forced wide as he looked destined to score but did well to regainhis composure to square the ball to McLaughlin but he leant back slightly and his shot went over the bar and the chance was gone. Donaghy then played Gordon in on goal but he couldn’t get enough behind his shot to trouble Robertson then McLean dragged a shot past the post in the last minute.

FULL TIME ANTS 2 (McLaughlin 22, Heron 67) v 0 DUNIPACE

Ants Website Man of the Match – Chris McLaughlin

A Wullie Duncan hat-trick, alongside goals by David Donnelly, Chris Gordon, Conor Meechan and Jack Heron left the Ants fans in seventh heaven at the full time whistle as Doyle and McDonald’s side ran out 7-1 winners against a Newmains team, who to their credit kept fighting to the end despite the scoreline.

The Ants dominated from the first whistle and almost took the lead after only a minute but Milarvie was inches away from connecting with Gordon’s cross and Duncan couldn’t get any power behind his effort on the turn then McLaughlin set Duncan clean through on Orr but he was forced wide as he tried to round the keeper and Milarvie’s cross was blocked for a corner. From the corner the Ants took the lead when McLaughlin found the head of DAVID DONNELLY and the big centre half made it two in two in the league with a powerful downward header. Newmains then had their first effort on goal but McCreadie didn’t catch his shot right under pressure from Conway and Wallace held easily.

The Ants almost doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Wallace’s goal kick found on loan Darren McLean who fired a shot at goal but the onrushing Orr did well to block and the ball was booted upfield, Donnelly controlled the ball well and passed to Gamba, his first time pass let McLean get a great cross in but Duncan couldn’t keep his header down. Duncan then had another great chance when McLean knocked down a Gamba free kick but his attempted volley went wide. McLean then had a great chance to score but Orr produced a great one handed save to deny the debutant a goal. Duncan was causing the visitors all kinds of problems but couldn’t find a way past Orr. The two time Ants top goalscorer was not to be denied though and got his name on the scoresheet in the 17th minute. Conway’s through ball was only half cleared by the Newmains defence and Gordon headed the ball to Meechan who found WULLIE DUNCAN rushing in to slam the ball past Orr and double the Ants lead. In the 34th minute the Ants all but wrapped up the game, McManus sent a lovely ball forward for CHRIS GORDON to run onto and his quick thinking first time shot from fully 30 yards caught Orr out and bounced under the keepers perfunctory dive and into the empty net to make it 3-0. Right on the stroke of half time WULLIE DUNCAN grabbed his second and the Ants fourth when McLaughlin sent him through on goal, he beat Orr to the ball and headed home from 6 yards to send the Ants in 4-0 at the break.

The second half was a case of more of the same and with only 16 seconds on the clock it was 5-0. McLean sliding a neat pass through to CONOR Meechan and the flame haired midfielder sent Orr the wrong way to further increase the Ants lead with a fine finish. A minute later a long ball from Wallace sent McLean through but he couldn’t get his shot on target. Not that the Ants fans had to wait much longer on the sixth goal when WULLIE DUNCAN capitalised on Orr’s inability to hold a shot with a lovely finish for his hat-trick and the Ants sixth after only 50 minutes. Newmains almost grabbed a consolation after 62 minutes but Dillon McLaughlan’s effort hit the top of the crossbar and went over.

The Ants had maybe taken the foot off the gas a little, as is normal when your six goals to the good and a general malaise overcame them at times but they still posed a threat whenever they went forward and almost grabbed a seventh when Meechan’s long diagonal found Duncan unmarked at the back post, the striker then unselfishly tried to pass to Gordon but his pass was cut out and the chance was gone. McLaughlin then went close when he got on the end of a Meechan cross that had been partially cleared but he leant back slightly and fired over the bar. The Ants then had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the 72nd minute when sub Donaghy found Gordon in the box, he was scythed down by Howson from behind but much to the Ants strikers annoyance the man in the middle waved play on. Credit to Newmains they kept working hard and started to come into the game a little more when good work between McLaughlan and Anderson saw the latter have an effort at goal which drifted wide. In the 77th minute Newmains grabbed a consolation when a cross into the box by Fitzpatrick was headed into his own net by ADAM DOUGAN, to be fair it was a cracking finish that gave Wallace no chance, flying into the top corner.

The Ants seemed a bit more fired up by that and they regained their six goal advantage when Dougan atoned for his earlier own goal by setting up JACK HERON for his first league goal of the season with a drilled finish from the edge of the box in the 88th minute to put the lid on a 7 star performance making it 7-1 on the day.

Next up for the Ants is a trip to Saracen Park to face their old friends Ashfield, with Doyle and McDonald hoping they can pick up from where they left off this week.

Ants Website Man of the Match – A number of candidates could have got the nod but it’s got to be WULLIE DUNCAN for notching a hat-trick