By Neil Brown
March 24 2009

AS Airdrie 2-2 Greenhills Dynamo

Division One

Airdrie earned a hard earned point against an inform Greenhills side with goals from Capaldi and Edgar.

The manager made 4 changes to the side from last week. Out went Stewart, Scott and Brown who were unavailable and Brady who dropped down onto the bench. In came S.Graham, Smith, Capaldi and Kenny Pardoe.

The first half was pretty even in terms of chances with Greenhills enjoying the better of possession. A couple of half chances fell to dynamo in the first 15 minutes then Capaldi with Airdrie’s first effort. Airdrie took the lead against the run of play when a nice chip from Ross Graham found Capaldi in the box and he calmly lobbed the ball over the keeper. Airdrie were holding their own defensively especially against 2 good strikers in Donnelly and Hanlon but Hughes and Cullie were posing problems in centre midfield. However Airdrie went 2 up after 30 minutes when Edgar smashed the ball home from 18 yards. Airdrie should have made it 3 minutes later but gray’s effort with just the keeper to beat went narrowly wide. Dynamo finished the half with a cross ball that Hughes narrowly missed. 

If the first half was evenly contested then the second half was all Greenhills as they piled on the pressure from the re start. Rowan had to look lively on numerous occasions and only some last ditch defending kept Greenhills out. Greenhills pulled a goal back when a poorly defended corner saw the centre half with a free header from 8 yards and he made no mistake. With 60 played Airdrie made 2 changes through injury with Edgar and Kenny off and Burton and Morrison on. Minutes later rowan pulled of a great save when he touched a header round the post. With 20 left slack play again found Airdrie under pressure and the ball into the box found Donnelly who was brought down by cooper as Airdrie conceded their 7th penalty in 4 games. However yet again rowan came up with a fine save and the danger looked over but the cleared ball found gray who lost possession and a quick ball found Hanlon inside the box and the big striker turned neatly and curled an effort into the top corner. The last 15 saw dynamo pile forward but they were leaving gaps at the back and on 2 occasions’ great balls from Lindsay released gray, who was unable to take advantage. Neil Pardoe then hammered the ball over from 12 yards. Greenhills thought they had scored the winner but rowan again came to the rescue as Airdrie battled for a point.

A hard earned point against a fine Greenhills side that has a good chance of a treble. A Decent first half then a backs to the wall job in the second. Rowan was outstanding with good saves and fine goal kicking and notable performances from Ross Graham and Lindsay.

Team

Rowan

S.Graham Cooper R.Graham

Smith

Edgar K.Pardoe Lindsay N.Pardoe

Gray Capaldi.

Morrison for K.Pardoe (60)

Burton for Edgar (60)

Brady for Gray (90)

Leishman

MOM - John Rowan