The first half saw Airdrie create the better chances and play the better football.Capaldi was causing all sorts of bother and getting lots of space down the right but the final ball was poor. Windlaw’s strikers were well marshaled by Stewart and Graham and they were restricted to a couple of shots that didn’t bother Hendrie in goals. After 20 minutes Airdrie lost the impressive Capaldi when he had to come off with breathing difficulties and Clark took his place upfront. Airdrie then missed chances through Gray who fired weakly at the keeper then again fired past the post following good build up play down the right. Windlaw took the lead after 25 minutes when a free kick played into the box found its way to McCann who turned and hit the ball, which took a deflection off the Airdrie defender and found it’s way into the bottom corner to make it1-0 against the run of play but Airdrie kept their shape and probed away at the Windlaw defence who looked shaky at best. Edgar just failed to get on the end of a great ball across the goal from K.Pardoe. However they could have scored just before half time when Clark knocked a lovely header through to Gray who ran in and fired just past the post.

The second half started with a much-improved Windlaw team who took the game to Airdrie and had them on the back foot for the first ten minutes. A half chance fell to the striker, which was blocked, then the number 15 (who had come on 5 minutes into the half) headed narrowly over the bar. Airdrie clawed their way back into the half and equalized after the hour mark. A fine through ball from R.Graham found Morrison who had made a great run down the left and his dangerous ball across goal found Clark to knock home the leveler. Airdrie picked up the pace and Windlaw were starting to get edgy which resulted in the left back getting booked for a deliberate handball then Dougal got booked for a challenge on Stewart. In-between Edgar picked up his first yellow of the season for kicking the ball away folowing a a free kick being awarded to Windlaw. However Airdrie were on top and took the lead when a ball from Stewart over the top found Smith through on goal and his cool lob over the keeper made it 2-1. Airdrie nearly made it 3-1 when Edgar curled an effort past the post. They did make it 3-1 however from an angled free kick from Stewart found N.Pardoe who cut inside and slotted the ball into the net with 15 minutes to go. Just as Airdrie needed to keep it tight Windlaw got back into the game 2 minutes later when a cross into the edge of the box saw Kerr (who was their best man on the day)head a fine effort over the hands of Hendrie although he may have fouled Graham in the process. This gave the league leaders a chance to get back into the game but it was Airdrie who missed 2 golden chances to finish it off. Firstly Stewart won the ball on the edge of his own box and rode a challenge from Dougal he raced the full length of the pitch but with men clear in the box went himself and the keeper saved. Windlaw then had the number 12 sent off for an attempted head butt before a breakaway saw Gray clear down the right but he delayed his pass to Morrison and the keeper blocked his attempt from close range. With a few minutes left Windlaw equalized. Stewart gave away a free kick about 25 yards out and as the number 15 lined up the ball he saw Hendrie at the wrong side of the goal trying to organize the wall and he curled a quick free kick into the other corner after getting the go ahead from the ref. Quick thinking by the number 15 but a lesson to Airdrie which will not be repeated. With the game winding down both teams had a player sent off after Morrison accidentally trod on the number 10 who had went to ground following a tussle with Graham the Windlaw player reacted by throwing a couple of punches which Morrison tried to fend off and a fracas ensued that eventually led to the number 10 and Morrison both seeing red.

At The moment it feels like two dropped points however I’m sure we will look back on this as a good point at a place where visitors wont find it easy. We can take a lot from the game as we more than Matched Windlaw for the best part of the game and played some nice football in the process. More importantly we kept our discipline with lots of good performances around the team it was extremely hard to pick a m.o.m hopefully we can carry this form on throughout the season and make a decent run at the league title but we have a hard game in the Scottish Cup next week so we need to keep performing well. Windlaw will look at today as a point gained as they battled right to the end and a piece of quick thinking from 15 gave them a point and undoubtedly they will be there or thereabouts at the top of the league throughout the year. we wish them all the best.

Team

Subs
Clark for Capaldi
S.Graham for K.Pardoe
Burton
Atkin
Khorasani