Stranraer served up a exciting match at Stair Park which was attended by a healthy support of 735 fans, albeit may of whom were Airdrie fans. Michael Moore continued his goal scoring run, while Ian Harty managed to get his name on the score sheet after a number of barren matches.

The opening minutes of the match served notice that this would be game for the fans. After only three minutes Alan Gow broke through the Stranraer defense and a fine save by John Hillcoat denied the goal.

A minute later at the other end Sandy Hodge crossed a great ball in for the on-rushing Ian Harty, but the forward's shot went high over the bar. This lack of finishing was typical of the match, for either side.

John Hillcoat came to Stranraer's rescue again in the 11th minute when Paul Harvey's cross found Alan Gow. The forward's shot was struck directly at the keeper, and Hillcoat parried the ball before safely regaining possession.

In the 15th minute Stranraer took the lead through Michael Moore. Good play between Kerr, Moore and Harty resulted in a corner for the Blues. Lee Sharp's powerful, in swinging corner found Moore at the near post and his header went sailing past former Stranraer favourite Mark McGeown.

The celebration had hardly died down when Lee Sharp was brought down in the box by Simon Vella in the 17th minute. Ian Harty took the resulting penalty, striking the ball to the right of the 'keeper as he dove to his left.

The game then settled down for the next ten minutes as both sides failed to get into good scoring positions.

In the 28th minute Paul Kerr found himself clear up front, but facing three on-coming defenders. Rather than passing the ball to the open Michael Moore on his left, or equally open Ian Harty on his right, the forward pressed headlong into the defenders and rather predictably lost the ball.

Five minutes later Kerr found himself in a similar position, but this time only Moore was open, but it didn't matter as he again squandered a good passing opportunity. The fans in the stand showed their displeasure by jeering the player.

In the closing five minutes of the half Moore almost scored twice; first through a Deep cross by Lee Sharp, and again through a lovely through-ball by Ian Harty. On both occasions Mark McGeown was on form.

Stranraer continued their dominance of the match in the second half, and could have easily added three or four goals. However, poor finishing, and plain bad luck ruled the day.

In the 63rd minute Paul Kerr almost caught the Airdrie defense napping. A long clearance by John Hillcoat looped over the Airdrie defense and Kerr nipped in to latch onto the ball. With only the 'keeper to beat, the Stranraer forward kicked the ball goal ward, but McGeown somehow got a hand to it and the ball went out for a corner. The corner by Sharp saw Alain Jenkins produce a blistering shot, which went narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Ian Harty almost produced the goal of the season in the 68th minute when Lee Sharp played the striker a great ball from the right wing. Harty raced up the field surrounded by a flock of Airdrie defenders. His powerful looping shoot was a fraction of an inch away from going in with Mark McGeown rushing forward. Incredibly the ball when over the bar.

Airdrie final produced their best chance of the half in the 76th minute through a Marvyn Wilson shot, which slipped over the bar.

Ian Harty almost scored his second goal of the match when he broke free with only McGeown to beat. With McGeown rushing towards him at the right-hand edge of the Airdrie box, Harty slipped the ball past the fully extended reach of the 'keeper and watched in agony as the ball missed the post by less than a cat's whisker!

The final chance of the match fell again to Ian Harty. Lee Sharp made a great run up the field and found Harry Curran in the centre of the park who in turn found Harty. Again Harty attempted a shot from the edge of the box, and again the ball went wide of the post.

Man of the Match: This is a hard one this week as the team played as, well... a team! Frazer Wright and was solid at the back, Lee Sharp and Sandy Hodge kept the wings active, while Ian Harty, Michael Moore and Paul Kerr help the defenses heads down. My personal choice would be Lee Sharp as he rarely put a foot wrong today, but I'm sure you some of you will disagree with me on that one!

Summary: A cracking game which could have easily been 5-0 to Stranraer if things had gone right on the day, or even 5-2 if AIrdrie has scored with their chances. Most fans will be happy that we are back on our winning ways and hopefully a win on Wednesday against Stenhousemuir will ensure we are back in second place come Wednesday night.

ATTN: 735

Team/Formation

Subs

• McLaren for Kerr (71 mins)
• Curran for Aitken (84 mins)

Subs not used: Fallon, Lurinsky, McCulloch

Referee: D. Smith

Fouls:

Airdrie Utd: McGeown, William Wilson, Armstrong, Stewart, Vella, McGowan, Gow, Marvyn Wilson, McKeown, Harvey, Vareille. Subs: Garden, Ronald, Glancy, Miller, Cherrie.

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