By N.Brown
June 10 2010

August

The season got off to a perfect start with three comfortable wins in the league cup sections, Emphatic 7-0 and 8-1 victories against Rossvale and Whinhall followed a 5-2 opening win over Victoria Park B. Golden Boot: Ian Shaw and Kenny Pardoe began their fight for top scorer with 5 goals apiece. Jim Brady and Ally Gray with 3 each not far behind.

September

October

November

Almost total wipeout as only two games survived this month a 3-2 win away to Cumbernauld town was followed by a 4-2 loss to Blochairn Star at Glenconner ultimately a disappointing month as the Cumbernauld game became void after they withdrew from the league. Golden Boot: The goals still counted though and Brady netted twice with Gray and Shaw getting 1 each.

Only one game before the official winter break saw Airdrie travel to struggling Forest. A heavy pitch saw Airdrie struggle to get going but after Kenny Pardoe missed from the spot Gray fired in the opener just before half time. Gray went on to complete a hat trick with Capaldi adding two and Ian Shaw getting a late 6^th goal to seal 3 more points. Golden Boot: Those goals saw the chart look like this at the turn of the year: 1^st K.Pardoe – 12

2^nd= Shaw – 9

2^nd= Gray – 9

4^th Brady – 6

Despite best attempts no games at all were played in January.

February faired little better and after Cumbernauld's exit this gave Airdrie a free passage in the league cup quarter final and the semi final tie was scheduled for the end of March, Airdrie were desperate for action but only managed two games. First up a league tie with Clydebank united and after going two goals behind Airdrie hit back second half and looked to have secured the points with a 3 goal haul but a horrendous mistake in the last minute gifted clydebank the chance of a point which they took. A Strathclyde cup 1^st round tie against 2^nd Division Tantallon Victoria was next up. An easy 7-0 win and a good run out for most of the boys. Golden Boot: Shaw and Brady took advantage of Pardoe’s absence by scoring doubles in the cup game, Shaw with 3 for the month as Pardoe netted two in his single game.

March saw the weather continue to take it’s toll and Airdrie’s only game before the semi final was the 2^nd round tie against Blairdardie another 2^nd division team who proved a lot tougher to crack, However Airdrie still managed to advance with a 4-1 win. Not ideal preparation but it would have to suffice as we went in against Blochairn Star at Barlia for a place at Hampden. A disappointing game and after being even for 30 minutes Blochairn hit us for two goals in the first half. We fought back well but created little clear cut chances, with 5 to go Lindsay dispatched a spot kick and after Blochairn were reduced to ten Cooper hit the post with a late diving header. Not enough though as we bowed out the cup. Golden Boot: Shaw and Pardoe both added one each to their season’s tally.

April was a busy month as we played catch up on the winter. A 1-1 draw with champions elect Greenhills was followed by a narrow 2-1 loss at SCYP who were pushing Greenhills for the title. Airdrie again lost a late goal to only draw after leading Victoria Park 2-1. With only 11 men on board Airdrie traveled to Tynecastle but went down to a bizarre OG before losing Slevin for the season with a late injury. Airdrie’s silverware hopes were over for the season as the suffered a cruel late goal after a cracking game against SCYP twice falling behind twice we struck back with excellent goals and were unlucky not to be in front as the game faded towards penalty’s the home side hit a late winner. Airdrie picked themselves up from that blow to concentrate on securing a top half league finish and bagged back to back wins over Forest (6-0) and St Marys (2-1) Rowan with a last minute penalty save in the latter. Golden Boot: Pardoe scored 3 more goals with Shaw Brady and Gray all netting once.

The season ended with a wee run unbeaten firstly a 3-2 win over Victoria Park after twice being behind Shaw pulled us back level and Lindsay hit the winner in the second half. A last minute penalty denied Airdrie victory over Blochairn star after Shaw’s brilliant first half effort looked to have won it. A 2-1 win over Shawbridge followed a game we could have wrapped up m ore easily however in the end two goals were enough to see out the game. The season ended with another good game v SCYP who took an early lead, Airdrie hit back before the break and added two more after half time, However SCYP rallied and scored twice to end the match all square at 3-3. Golden Boot: Shaw’s 3 goals this month saw him fall just short of Pardoe’s 18 goals with 17. Gray added a couple in the last game to take 3^rd spot with 12 ahead of Brady on 10.