Airdrie United 1 Accies 0: 8 March 2005

Bell's League Division 1

Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, 8 March 2005

Report by Gilbert Mowat

While the final score in this match was close, there can be no doubt that the home side were well worthy of the three points. They finally made the breakthrough in injury time, when Alan Gow ran onto a good through ball before rounding Dave McEwan and rolling the ball into an empty net from a tight angle. It was a neat finish and no more than Airdrie United deserved. I didn't bother to count them, but they had so many shooting opportunities during the game that it was almost inevitable that they would make one of them count. It was just hard to stomach that the only goal would come in time added on by referee Hugh Dallas.

But that's not to say that this was not a good performance by Accies. They played well for almost all of the game, although towards the end they did seem to be pegged back in their own half for much of the time. Allan Maitland kept faith with the team that had done so well at Perth at the weekend, although he did have to replace Pat Keogh with Colin Cramb. Crammy had a useful game, although he was guilty of missing Accies best chance in the second half when he controlled a great long pass from Lee Hardy. His footwork was good but his shot was not good enough to get past Mark McGeown. Although Accies played well, particularly in the first half, chances were at a premium and they lacked that cutting edge. Derek Ferguson, Jean Phillippe Javary and Marcel Mahouvé were particularly effective in midfield with Mark Corcoran putting in a solid shift up front. They combined well with the defence, where Paquito had another excellent game.

It was a pity that Javary was replaced at half time, with David Hamilton taking his place. I can only assume that the clatter in the back he received from one of the Airdrie defenders in the first half caused him some damage. Accies created one good chance in the first half, with Marcel Mahouvé shooting narrowly post the post from the edge of the area. The home team had several decent efforts before the break, but found Dave McEwan in good form. This being only a match between two diddy teams, referee Hugh Dallas did not add a single second of additional time at the end of the first period.

The first half had been really entertaining and competitive and the pattern continued after the break. Accies were getting stuck in but they missed that good opportunity through Colin Cramb that I mentioned earlier. The only other chance of note came near the end, after Brain McPhee had replaced Lee Hardy. Some good play between The Bee and David Hamilton ended with McPhee thumping a low drive across the face of the goal which Mark Corcoran just failed to reach at the back post. Accies had a good spell near the end of the game and forced several corners. Hanging on for a point was not on the agenda. So it was really galling when all the good work was wasted in the dying seconds.

You could argue that Accies had pushed too far forward in a vain search for a winner, or that Dave McEwan should not have rushed from his goal to try to save at Gow's feet. In any event, the Airdrie striker made up for his night of poor shooting with an excellent finish to grab all three points for his sides. The fact that they deserved the win makes it no easier to bear.

This was a good performance from Accies against one of the better teams in the division. If they continue to show this attitude for the remainder of the season they will certainly stay in the league.

Airdrie Utd: McGeown, McKenna, Lovering, Docherty, McManus, Dunn (McLaren 62), Vareille (Barkey 89), Marvyn Wilson, Coyle (Roberts 74), Gow, McKeown. Subs Not Used: William Wilson, Hollis.

Booked: Docherty, Lovering. Goal: Gow 90.

Hamilton: McEwan, Paquito, Hodge, Thomson, McLaughlin, Javary (Hamilton 45), Ferguson, Hardy (McPhee 72), Cramb (Carrigan 69), Mahouve, Corcoran. Subs Not Used: McArthur, Jellema.

Booked: McLaughlin.

Att: 1,430

Ref: H Dallas

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