Airdrie United 0 Accies 0: Saturday, 19 October 2002

Scottish League Division 2, New Broomfield, Airdrie

Saturday, 19 October 2002

Report by Gilbert Mowat

To say that this was a less than thrilling match would be a bit of an understatement. In fact in many ways it was the sporting equivalent of a sub standard Chinese meal. It wasn't satisfying, cost too much money and no-one who was there will be able to remember much about it.

However, I know that there are some people out there who want to read about the match from an Accies perspective, so here goes.

At least we stopped the rot. This was a match that most people will have expected Accies to lose. Another defeat would have taken Accies into the relegation zone, with only Forfar between them and the very foot of the table. For the purposes of morale, that would have been as nearly as damaging as this week's news that Jim Watson had strengthened his position in total control of the club.

For the visiting fans who shelled out the scandalous charge of £12.00 to attend the game, there were a couple of changes to the team that had succumbed so meekly to Stranraer two weeks ago. Graham Potter, Jim Sherry and Craig Smillie were all missing, with Ian Macfarlane, Johnny Walker and Paul McDonald stepping in. This gave the team a more settled look and the defence worked really hard to gain a hard earned point from the match.

It would be wrong to suggest that Airdrie United didn't deserve to win the match. Despite occasional attacking flurries from Accies, the home side were clearly the better team on the day. They just didn't create enough chances to win the match, although they were denied by an inspirational performance by Faldo in the Accies goal. He made two superb saves, one at each end of the match. After only 8 minutes, Martin Glancy sent over a terrific cross from the right. It found former Killie striker Jerome Vareille in tons of space. He took his time and controlled the ball well but his low shot was superbly smothered by Faldo. The other terrific effort from Faldo came right at the end of the game when he clawed a close range netbound effort from David McGuire out of the air.

(Incidentally, it was interesting to learn that our old favourite Paul McGrillen declined the chance to sign for Airdrie United when he was offered more money by Bellshill Athletic. So how come they've got Vareille? Anyway, he showed that he hasn't lost the art of throwing himself to the ground with his arms in the air whenever he gets fouled.)

Those were the best of the chances created by the home team. Despite having a lot of the ball, they flattered to deceive and weren't really particularly good either. Accies did have a few good efforts, with Gareth Armstrong presented with a couple of opportunities to lob the diminutive figure of Mark McGeown in the Airdrie United goal. Sadly, both of his efforts were overhit with predictable consequences. Mahdi Elfallah had a good chance in the second half too, but his shot from the right was sliced so badly that it even went outside the goal supports!

The best chances, however, fell to Brian McPhee. It has to be said that The Bee had a bit of an off day. He had a good chance with a header late in the second half but could only find the side-net and also came really close to scoring right at the end when he had the ball taken away just as he was about to shoot from close range. Alarmingly, though, he seemed unable to connect with his partner Gareth Armstrong at all and was twice caught in possession instead of releasing the ball.

There was a very close call for Accies when, after clearing an Airdrie United corner, Ian Macfarlane and a home player collided accidentally in the penalty area and were both sent sprawling. The ball broke to "well-travelled" player Paul Harvey but his shot from 25 yards went well wide with the goal at his mercy. Faldo then thought he had a free kick about 12 yards out but must have been alarmed when the referee signalled only for a goal kick.

The game was refereed by Eric Martindale and he flashed the yellow card at Ian Dobbins, Mahdi Elfallah, Johnny Walker and Martin Bonnar. You couldn't really argue with the decisions although he was a bit officious at times.

So it was not a game that will be remembered with any affection by those that were there. But at least it was an improvement. And a point.

Accies now have consecutive home matches against Cowdenbeath and Forfar. I don't think it's an overstatement to say that those games have to be won if the season is not to end in bitter disappointment.

Accies: Macfarlane, Ally Graham(I), McDonald, Dobbins, Sweeney, Elfallah, Bonnar, Walker, Armstrong (Keegans), McPhee, Callaghan

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