Ashfield F & A C 2 St Anthony`s 3 , Saracen Park, Glasgow - Kick-Off 2pm.

Ashfield missed a handful of first half chances with the wind behind them and went in at the interval only 1-1. This proved not to be enough for the `field as St Anthony`s put on an excellent show in the second half to leave Saracen Park with the three points and severely dent Ashfield`s promotion hopes.

A good crowd turned up at Saracen Park this afternoon for the first meeting of the season between the teams. Ashfield were keen to bounce back from last week`s 3-2 defeat at Cumbernauld and were playing in their traditional Black & White hoops with the Ants playing in a changed strip of all green. It was a really gusty day and the home side had the benefit of it in the first half however it was the visitors that started the stronger team buoyed on by recent results and took the lead after only 9 minutes. Ex-Ashfield Centre Half Graeme Japp got on the end of a couple of headed crosses and looped a header over Chris Prior to put the Ants 1-0 up. Ashfield 0 St Anthony`s 1.

This was the wake-up call for Ashfield and they proceeded to bombard the away goal for the majority of the first half playing some good football and missing some glorious opportunites. The Ants defence held up well backed by an excellent keeper in Turner. Shortly after losing the goal Craig Smith broke clear of his markers on the edge of the box and drilled a low shot inches past the post. Two minutes later and a lovely deep cross by Jim Smith was met by Paul Maxwell and his flashing header hit the underside of the bar and was cleared to safety to the relief of the Ants defence.

Ashfield continued to press and were playing some really good football at this stage, however should have been level on the 26th minue when a lovely floated cross by Gordon Passmore was met by Ali Martin. The Ashfield winger looked destined to score his 22nd goal of the season, however his left foot volley went inches past the far post to the dismay of the home support.

On the half hour mark the home side had a succession of corners which resulted in dramatic clearances from the Ants defence with Keeper Turner producing some fine goalkeeping blocking and tipping a net bound corner round the post. Eventually Ashfield broke the deadlock on the 31st Minute after an inswinging corner by Ali Martin was punched clear by the Ants Keeper only for the ball to fall to Alan `Spider` Smith who drilled a low shot past the keeper & defenders to put the `field level. Ashfield 1 St Anthony`s 1.

The home side continued to press forward and right on half time should have been ahead. Again an inswinging corner by Ali Martin was met by Alan Smith and his header across the six yard box was met by his brother Jim, who bulleted his header an inch over the bar.

HALF TIME:- ASHFIELD 1 ST ANTHONY`S 1


The second half had the crowd wondering if Ashfield would regret these missed first half chances and within the first five minutes you could see that the visitors were clearly looking to take the game to Ashfield and were knocking the ball around well. It was Ashfield however who made the impact on the half on the 53rd minute after a lovely move resulted in a Craig Smith shot being expertly palmed round the post by the Ants keeper. From the resultant corner the balll broke to Tony Chalmers and his shot was blocked by the hand of the Ants No 9 and the Referee pointed to the spot immediately. Jim Smith stepped up and lashed in his first goal for the `field. Ashfield 2 St Anthony`s 1.

This should have been the catalyst for an Ashfield victory however fair credit to the visitors as they really had a go at the `field for the remaining half and made Ashfield regret these first half misses. On the 65th Minute the ball was played to the right hand side of the Ashfield box, with the `field claiming for offside, the ball was driven low across the box for the onrushing Taylor to despatch the ball past Prior to the delight of the away support. Ashfield 2 St Anthony`s 2

The goal had been coming and Ashfield had to start all over again and despite further set pieces and corners the home side failed to trouble the impressive keeper. In the 79th minute a lovely floated corner by Ali Martin was met by Captain Mark Thomson and his header was well saved by the Ants keeper. With 9 Minutes to go the ball was played down the left hand side by the Ants No 9 Taylor who raced into the box and was on hand to meet the cross and volley the ball low and hard past Chris Prior in the Ashfield goal to the delight of the away support. Ashfield 2 St Anthony`s 3.

The visitors managed to survive some late pressure without too much trouble and secure another victory against a promotion chasing side. This result is a real blow to the `field, who will not believe that they lost this match after dominating so much of the opening period, however credit must be paid to the visitors who defended well in the first half and played extremely well in the second. The famous `field head to Thorniewood next Saturday in a must-win encounter to keep their slim promotion hopes alive, but if they create as many chances as they did in the first half today then 3 points could be on the cards.

FULL SCORE:- ASHFIELD 2 ST ANTHONY`S 3

Man of the Match:- Difficult one today considering the loss, however Jim Smith had a solid game at the back and despatched his penalty with aplomb.

Attendance:- 85

Photographs by:- IngaInga, more pics from this game can be seen on my Gallery page, please click the link: Ashfield v Ants Gallery Pics