St Anthony's 1-2 Cambuslang Rangers Central Region 1st Division Saturday 23rd January at McKenna Park
Cambuslang Rangers kicked off the year in fine style with a hard fought 2-1 win away to league leaders St Anthony's at the weekend. Both sides hadn't kicked a competitive ball since before the big freeze in early December and McKenna park is hard place to go at the best of times. The rustiness from both sides was clear to see early in the game but eventually both sides settled down and it was the Ants who got going first. Cambuslang welcomed back into the Squad Thomas Kilmartin, he had been missing for a couple of months with a broken bone in his foot, he made do with a place on the bench. Also making a return to the team was Sammy Sweeney, the midfielder had left the Lang at the end of last season to go to Australia.
			Connolly Clears Danger
	It was the Ants that threatened first and really should have opened the scoring after only 10 minutes. Madden was in on the keeper and with a big target to aim at the striker elected to cross to Harvey who was in an offside position and ref blew for the offence. A strange selection of pass when he should really have taken the shot on himself but a let off for the Lang. A couple of minutes later and the Lang had a half chance when Smith found space at the back post but Ant's keeper Mathers was down quickly to gather the effort. Lang went close a few minutes later when McCrae tested the keeper with a fine shot after a neat 1-2 with Donnelly. St Ants pressure paid off after 23 minutes when they opened the scoring. A long hopeful ball up field was met by Madden steaming into the box this time his pass across goal was perfect and Madden was on hand to knock into the roof of the net for a deserved lead. Lang had threatened very little in the opening stages. Most of their efforts were from long range and failing to trouble the Ants keeper. Another shot from the edge of the box, by Matthews, flew inches wide.
Ferguson Out-Muscled By St Ants Richie
H-T 1-0
Cambuslang made a double change at the break, Dunn and Donnelly were replaced by Thompson and Kilmartin. The change had an immediate impact as Lang were beginning to get some joy from wide areas and also looking more of a threat in front of goal due to Kilmartins power and pace. Lang got on level terms on the hour mark. McCraes effort was deflected wide for a corner kick, he took the kick himself and floated the ball towards Kilmartin and his deft header flew past the Ants keeper. Smith of the Lang was first into the ref's notebook. On 65 minutes Kilmartin saw a great effort superbly saved by Mathers. The visitors were forced into a change on 77 minutes Ferguson had picked up an injury and Thomas Hoey took his place.
		Doak Keeps Tabs On Ants Striker
		The winning goal came on 79 minutes and what a goal it was. Some superb footwork and close control in the Ants box had the Ants defence in all sorts of bother and Kilmartin then squeezed the ball across to Thompson who had the easiest of tasks and he knocked home from close range. Lang could have wrapped this one up on a couple of occasions, firstly when McFarlane saw his chip again superbly saved by the Ants keeper. On 85 minutes there was a sickening head clash with Ants Mansare and Langs Kilmartin, the Ants defender appeared to land awkwardly though and had to be replaced.
Connolly With vital block In 2^nd Half
Astonishingly the ref played no less than 8 and a half minutes stoppage time, and it was it that time both sides created chances. Lang should have killed the game when McCrae found himself with only the keeper to beat but his effort hit off the post. The ants defence failed to clear the ball properly and it fell to Kilmartin but he amazingly fired wide from 12 yards out. The Ants weren't finished yet and went up the park and forced Connolly into a fine save from the head of Richie and a minute later they went even closer as Cumming saw his header hit the bar and go over. As tempers got a bit heated Ants Brown lost the plot a little after a really poor challenge on Matthews and could easily have seen red but the ref thought it was only worthy of a caution. Lang seen out the 8 minutes plus stoppage time to avenge the defeat earlier in the season where the Ants were 3-2 victors at Somervell.
		Davie Matthews A Nuisance In Midfield

F-T 1-2

Lang Line Up		For More Shots From The Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	CONNOLLY DOAK McFARLANE INGLIS BISHOP MATTHEWS DUNN (KILMARTIN 46) SMITH McCRAE FERGUSON ( HOEY 77) DONNELLY ( THOMPSON 46) TEMPLETON	Click Here