The Stomp - Victoria Park 3-3 AS Airdrie

Victoria Park 3-3 AS Airdrie

Airdrie had to ring the changes for this cup tie with Lindsay,K.Pardoe,N.pardoe and Graham all missing from Saturday's win. Clark,Slevin,Hetherington and Brady started the match with both Manager and Coach on the bench along with Leishman.

A very heavy pitch just about passed inspection with the wide area's in particular a concern, A slight drizzle throughout the game made it heavy going and credit to both sets of player who still produced a decent game. Victoria had most of the early possesion but it was Airdrie who opened the scoring midway through the first half as Shaw's penetrating run was ended in the box by a poor challenge. Shaw stepped up and slammed the ball into the roof of the net. Airdrie gifted Vics an equaliser shortly after, a poor attempted clearance fell straight to the striker who stuck a tidy finish away.

Second half began better for Airdrie with better passing all round although the pitch was getting worse they kept to the passing game and getting balls down the flanks for the runners. Airdrie took the lead again after 65 mins Shaw's run was again crudely halted 25 yards out, however the referee got the wrong man as he booked the full back instead of the chasing player who committed the foul. Andy clark stepped up and hit a low drive into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. Vics then returned the earlier gift as the centre back completly lost the flight of a through ball and Brady was in one on one and cleverly lobbed the keeper for what should have been the decisive goal. Victoria park weren't out of it but Airdrie really should have closed the game out however a poor piece of defending let the home side back into it and that was compounded two minutes later when a corner kick led to a bit of a stramash and Vics managed to bundle the ball over the line. With 15 to go MacFalane and Leishman replaced Gray and Hetherington. Both sides had chances to win it at the death but on balance a draw was about fair.

Overall a below par performance from Airdrie, however we can't be to critical as the conditions wern't the best and the opponents worked really hard throughout the game. The results mean Airdrie go to Ravenscraig on saturday needing a point to be certain of going through to the knockout stages of the cup.

Team

Rowan

Scott Cooper Clark Slevin

Hetherington Edgar Smith Shaw

Gray Brady

MacFarlane for Gray (75)

Leishman for Hetherington (75)

Brown

Man Of The Match - Andy Edgar

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