Airdrie

Raith

Airdrie looked to have had it sussed in the first half as Raith really struggled to break down our competent and creative side. Doc had settled well in central defence with both he and McGowan snuffing out their opponents with ease ably backed up by Sandy. In midfield Armstrong and Wilson were dominating, especially Marv against big Andy, it was no match really. Up front Vareille was full of running. Unfortunately our achilles heel is our finishing. Once again, how often(?), the game result would have been so different had it not been for our woeful finishing. In one first half move Vareille was one on one with the goalie, opted to go round him and lost the chance. Ronald was trying but too many times when we were carving an opening he'd be hanging back too far then getting into the danger areas too slowly. Gow was playing well but went off injured midway through the first half to be replaced by David McGuire. One got the feeling that McGuire was caught a bit short and struggled to catch the pace for a while. Half time and scoreless Airdrie had dominated Raith and we looked forward with some optimism but the only worry was how we could sort out the forward line without a recognised scorer on the bench. Maybe Gardner for Ronald with McKeown going up front? Not to be.

Raith came out like a house on fire for the second half. Had Calderon masterminded an Ali-Foreman like tactic by letting us blow ourselves out in the first half? A half time switch saw Blackadder come on for Hampshire with Smith going up front, his height to prove crucial against our smallish defence. Airdrie were certainly more under the cosh for most of the half with Raith looking a good team now. Airdrie's biggest problem was keeping the ball. Raith had some good chances to go ahead but Superman's wee brother (copyright wee Ped) in our goal was equal to anything that Hawley could come up with and he even managed to pull a shot accross a gaping goal. Seems I'd missed McGuire do the same for us a couple of minutes earlier when I'd been to the loo. Yes we were still creating some chances but we're just not clinical enough finishers.

Into the last ten minutes and Airdrie had a lucky escape when Marvyn Wilson handled at the edge of the box, did the ref deem it self defence(?), and play raged on. Moments later we were undone by some wing play by Rovers substitute left winger Fyfe who'd been having a terrific game against Armstrong. His blatant dive for the free kick had even David McGuire blushing but the hapless ref gave it. Typically the freekick was nodded in by Smith for Raith's first against us this season.