Airdrie United 1 Accies 1: 1 May 2004

Scottish League Division 2

New Broomfield, Airdrie, 1 May 2004

Report by Gilbert Mowat

This Accies team just doesn't know when to give up. They went into this game without Brian Carrigan and Todd Lumsden because of suspension and Andy Arbuckle through injury. There were reports that Chris Aitken and Brian McPhee had suffered injuries during the week. Airdrie United just needed a point to ensure promotion and, with a big crowd behind them, they were determined to have their day in the sunshine.

As it turned out, it was an unforgettable day as Accies, cheered on by an impressive travelling support, gave as good as they got for long spells of the game. Accies started in a very calm controlled manner and were really the better team for the first half hour or so. They found it difficult to create chances however and were fortunate when Airdrie's best bit of play of the game left Willie McLaren with only Dave McEwan to beat after some nifty footwork by Owen Coyle. Happily, McLaren's shot from the edge of the area hit the post and rebounded to safety.

McLaren's first touch had been impressive throughout the first half and it was interesting that Allan Maitland decided that Jim Sherry would mark the youngster. Jim did quite well in the early stages but was lucky not to be yellow carded when he had two efforts at fouling McLaren on the touchline. Maybe if referee Tom Brown had done that then wee Jim wouldn't have scythed McLaren down just after the half hour. Given that McLaren was on the touchline - in his own half - it was a daft thing for the wee guy to do. Brown waved the red card at Jim and it seemed that Accies' season had just ended. Ricky Waddell took over from Jim as the man marker for McLaren and did an excellent job in containing him for the remainder of the game. McLaren was lucky to escape the wrath of referee Brown when he had a sly swipe at Robert Walker after Rab had shielded the ball out of play for a goal kick.

The only other notable event of the half was a brilliant volley by Owen Coyle that hit Dave McEwan's other post before heading past. Accies were probably quite happy to be level at the break but it must be said that their goalscoring opportunities were very scarce. The Bee was doing his best up front with Mark Corcoran for company but it looked obvious that wee Jose was far from fully fit. At the back, Robert Walker, Steven Thomson and his new partner Sandy Hodge were having great games as they contained the skillful Airdrie attack.

There's no question that the home side had dominated the game after Jim Sherry was sent off and they started the second period in the same manner. Wee McLaren was still an irritant down the left although he was lucky not to be booked after flinging himself down inside the area. In a rare attack, we were treated to some audacious skill by Steven Thomson as he first nutmegged an Airdrie defender before chipping the ball against the crossbar with the outside of his right boot. Nearly goal of the season stuff!

So it was really shattering when the home team took the lead after 57 minutes. With bodies flying in the box and Tom Brown ignoring some pathetic penalty appeals, the ball broke kindly for Airdrie's No 10 Andy Gow. He skipped past a lunging Accies defender and tucked the ball into the corner for a very well taken goal. For a while after this Accies were really under the cosh. Not that there was ever really a time when Airdrie looked like extending their lead - it's just that Accies were finding it hard to get up the park. At this stage, it's worth mentioning that the Accies defence played out of their skins all day.

But it's a daft man who writes off this Accies team. With just 8 minutes left a long through ball gave Brian McPhee a chance to run at the Airdrie defence. He made a bit of space on the edge of the area and his right foot shot was too powerful and accurate for Mark McGeown in the Airdrie goal. The ball flew into the net and it was time for pandemonium in the Accies support. Accies got stuck in after this and won a few fruitless corners, but the league leaders were shaken. Steven Thomson was bizarrely yellow carded for complaining to the referee that the Airdrie wall hadn't retreated far enough at an Accies free kick and Jerome Vareille got the same punishment for sending Ricky Waddell flying.

There was the usual flurry of substitutions and the game was over. Accies left the field to a well deserved ovation from the travelling support and we all then left to avoid the Airdrie United fans celebrating their promotion to Division 1. You can't argue that they deserve it - but the small matter of who joins them is still to be determined.

Airdrie Utd: McGeown, Christie, Lovering, McGowan, McManus, Dunn, Glancy, Marvyn Wilson, Coyle, Gow, McLaren.

Subs: William Wilson, McKeown, Vareille, Roberts, Hollis.

Hamilton: McEwan, Walker (Gemmell), Waddell, Thomson, Hodge, Sherry, Quitongo (Gribben) , Aitken, Blackadder, McPhee, Corcoran (Donnelly).

Subs: Gribben, Gemmell, Donnelly, Nicoll, Jellema.

Referee: T Brown

- Read the fans' memories, or add your own, via this link.

- Please contact us if you have any information that will improve this page or if you spot any mistakes.

Images

Videos

Links and References