AIRDRIE UTD

To make it worse we were playing against a much changed Hamilton side put together in the summer by Maitland and MacDonald, formerly of Glasgow junior side Clyde. Familiar faces in their line up included on loan Livi keeper Dave McEwan, Todd Lumsden (Albion), Steven Thomson (Alloa), gigantic defender Sandy Hodge (Stranraer), McPhee, Convery (Clyde), Carrigan (Raith). An easy afternoon then?

Despite the fact that the record books will show we went in a goal down at half time is more due to the missed chances from us. Jerome was played in brillantly by Gow and Roberts but when a clip over the goalie looked obvious he chose to blast it and the goalie blocked him. Brilliantly. Mark Roberts had a chance late in the half shot weakly, then was unlucky to thump the post. Accies scored from a soft and needless penalty. Carrigan went down near the goalline going away from goal. Problem was that McGowan, who'd been rock solid, had needlessly tried to over stretch for the ball instead of sheparding him out. Whether McGowan committed the foul or whether Carrigan was inspired by the lunchtime display from Stilian (who mentioned Porto?) Petrov, is now irrelevant, but it did seem soft from 140 yards away. However we were terribly disjointed. Ronald was terrible, McManus and Black static, Roberts, Gow and Vareille all had their moments but looked awful.

The second half saw us quickly fall further behind in even greater controversy. McPhee skinned Black (the only time in the game) down our left and crossed perfectly for Convery in the box to head goalward (where was our defence?). McGeown somehow managed to change direction late and pulled off an incredible save, but the linesman flagged for the goal. The Airdrie defence were furious and subs Dunn and Miller who were warming up behind the goal both protested long and hard to anyone who'd listen. That goal prompted the long overdue. Sandy and Ronald went off for Glancy and Dunn. The 4 2 4 formation breathed life and a goal promptly followed. Dunn found Black, whose dangerous cross was knocked down by the now almost invisible Roberts for Jerome to blast home. We pushed and pushed but couldn't make the dominance pay. Accies hit the cross bar in the dying minutes and their sub striker was lucky not to be red carded for a vicious swipe at maddog. He's even luckier he didn't connect with Mr. McGowan or I think he'd be visiting the dental hospital for some remedial work!! However in the dying seconds Gowser had a fantastic chance in a one on one with McEwan but the goalie again did well to thwart that chance. Undoubtedly he was the main difference today.