By Neil Brown
April 9 2010

SCYP 2-1 AS Airdrie

Airdrie fell to a narrow defeat at Greenfields to title hopefuls SCYP.

The home side started at a high tempo keen to use the obvious pace of the front two, a combination of offsides good goal keeping and slack finishing kept them out for the entire first half, meantime Airdrie were restricted to counter attack football and caused some problems for the home defence. It was Airdrie who took the lead early in the first half as Gray collected the ball on the halfway line he took it to the corner to hold play up , after urning the defender inside out his near post cross was met by Shaw who's early attempt caught the keeper out and the ball broke for Clark to fire his side into the lead. Airdrie doubled there tally shortly before half time when Gray popped up at the back post to convert after good work from Clark & Shaw, however the referee chalked it off for offside, a bit annoying as he was clearly on but the ref can only call what he sees and we all ahve to get on with it.

Second half was very much backs to the wall but Airdrie coped with al that SCYP could throw at them with a little help from the woodwork but Airdrie were finally undone from a set piece. A free kick was awarded when play was pulled back after the palyer who was checked fired over the bar. From that free kick the full back was left unmarked to head past Rowan from 12 yards. The same player was to head the winner, again from a set piece he found space in the box to head past Rowan from a similar position. Airdrie tried to get back in the game and Shaw looked the best bet but was identified by the home side as a danger. A couple of free kick oppertunities went begging after Shaw was up ended twice in the last few minutes but didn't test the home keeper.

A difficult last 3 games playing the teams that will contest the league title a draw and two narrow losses suggests we're going in the right direction, a tough tie with SCYP in the Strathclyde cup and eight league games to get as high as possible ensures there's plenty still to play for this season.

MOM: Ally Gray back to his best with great work rate up front

Rowan

Mccall Robertson Graham N.Pardoe

Edgar Smith Lindsay Shaw

Clark Gray

K.Pardoe for Clark (60)

Slevin for Robertson (70)

Brady for Graham (85)