Accies 0 Cowdenbeath 0: Saturday, 31 March 2001

Scottish League Divison 3, Firhill Stadium

Saturday, 31 March 2001

TEAM NEWS

Ally Dawson made one change from the side that had won at New Bayview, with the suspended Michael Moore being replaced by Robert Downs. Alex Eadie was on the bench for the first time in ages.

THE MATCH

I make no apologies for the brevity of this report. This was simply one of the least inspiring matches Accies have played in ages. There was a fair amount of passion from the players, but there seemed to be an alarming absence of skill from those on the park.

Quite how Ally Dawson can persevere with Mark Nelson is beyond me. His distribution is woeful and his general play poor. I've heard that Steven Renicks is fit but that our esteemed manager fears that he's not mentally read. (In other words Ali G thinks he'll shirk out of tackles.) This might not be accurate, but the simple fact is that Steven must be a better bet than Mark Nelson at right back.

As far as the actual footie is concerned, Accies had the majority of the play in the first half but were unable to score past veteran 'keeper John Martin. Robert Downs was the major sinner when he opted to blast the ball over the bar when presented with a chance to advance and control the ball. Things were kept fairly tight at the back and (apart from one header which Faldo saved superbly) there never looked to be any danger of a Cowdenbeath goal.

The second half was more evenly matched but still no goals arrived. The best chance that Cowdenbeath had was when Ian Macfarlane was penalised for saving a pass back. The free kick was taken about 8 yards out but came to nothing. Before it was taken, Ian Macfarlane was booked for dissent and Bill Davidson for charging the ball when the Cowdenbeath player dummied to take the free kick.

At the other end, David McFarlane blew a great chance to score but he sliced the ball past the post. Stuart Callaghan was always ready to shoot but was unable to keep the ball down.

Towards the end, Dawson inexplicably introduced Alex Eadie up front. This is now getting beyond a joke. Eadie has been bracketed alongside Jim Liddle as many fans least favourite Accies striker. However, you've got to remember that Liddle was crap in the premier league, while Eadie achieves this in Division 3. I cannot understand how he gets a game ahead of some of the promising youth team players, like Alex Lurinsky. It's now reaching the humiliating state that Accies fans laugh at this poor man when he makes attempts to play football.

IN CONCLUSION...

This was definitely a case of two points dropped. Accies have done well to collect 7 points this week, but a defeat of Cowdenbeath would have been a massive step towards promotion. Instead, we're going to have to continue to hope that our rivals slip up along the way. that is far from guaranteed.

Accies lineup: