5 minute read
AIRDRIEONIANS MATCH REPORT
AIRDRIEONIANS 1 COVE RANGERS 1
Scottish League 1 Saturday Nov 28th @ Penny Cars Stadium
Advertisement
diamonds in the rough
Jamie Masson made a scoring return as we were held to a 1-1 draw by the Diamonds in our League One clash at the Penny Cars Stadium.
Midfielder Masson, back from serving a two game ban, showed great composure to fire us into the lead in the 26th minute.
Leighton McIntosh then missed a great chance to make it 2-0 during what was a highly impressive first half hour from us as we teased and tormented our full-time hosts with some top class passing football.
Airdrieonians were better in the second period and got back on level terms thanks to a stunning strike from former Montpellier winger Thomas Robert.
They also hit the woodwork twice, but we also had other chances on what ended up being a highly entertaining encounter.
The fact our lads looked dejected to come away with only a point from our first competitive visit to Airdrie underlined how far we have come as a club over the last few years, but we can be pleased to still be well placed in the battle for the top spots in the division.
Defender Ross Graham also returned from the start but was hardly called upon as we totally dominated from the off.
Masson was involved immediately, firing a 20 yard free-kick into the home defensive wall that was so powerful Airdrie defender Josh Kerr needed treatment after heading the effort clear. Mitch Megginson was inches away from getting on the end of
Harry Milne’s deflected cross from wide on the left as we kept up the pressure. Airdrieonians forward Robert was correctly booked in the 14th minute for simulation after being tackled by Connor Scully.
Fraser Fyvie started our next attack with an excellent long cross-field pass to send Leighton McIntosh away on the right but his cross was too strong as it flashed across the face of the Airdrie goal.
The home side finally posed a threat, on the 20th minute, when Roberts found space at the edge of the area to hit a powerful shot wide of Stuart McKenzie’s right post.
We went ahead in the 26th minute thanks to a really top class, footballing goal. A slick move up the park ended with McIntosh laying the ball off brilliantly into the path of Megginson, who then raced down the right towards the byline before firing a low cross over beyond the far post to Masson.
The midfielder was coolness personified as he took the ball down then picked his spot in the far corner of the net from around eight yards.
It should have been 2-0 in the 33rd minute when Masson found the unmarked McIntosh from a corner on the left but the striker could only poke his shot wide of the far post. If we had gone two up at that stage it would have been difficult to see the Diamonds recovering.
Fyvie then sent Scott Ross away on the right with a well weighted pass and his cross was headed off target by the overlapping Milne.
Airdrieonians finally got a shot on target in the 38th minute, when Dale Carrick saw his drop volley parried to safety by McKenzie.
Robert was fortunate to avoid a second yellow just before the break when he seemed to go down too easily in our area after being challenged by McIntosh.
The fact the Frenchman went on to claim the equaliser showed how key that decision was. Referee Graham Grainger was content to award a corner, which Robert took, from the Airdrie left.
His cross reached Sean Crighton at the far post but his powerful six yard header was kept out by an excellent one handed save by McKenzie.
We were unlucky not to add to our lead just after the restart when a sweeping move ended with McIntosh laying the ball off to Fyvie and his 16 yard shot was kept out by a brilliant block from Leon McCann.
Airdrieonians were even unluckier in the 48th minute when Carrick’s shot from the edge of the area beat McKenzie but rebounded to safety off the crossbar.
Fyvie went close again a minute later when his low 16-yard shot was pushed wide by diving home keeper Max Currie.
Airdrieonians equalised in the 57th minute when Robert was given too much space on the ball and he lashed an unstoppable 19 yard shot into the top corner. Megginson sent a 20 yard shot off target in our next attack as we attempted to regain the lead.
Skipper Megginson had an even better chance in the 73rd minute when Ross crossed the ball in from the right but his 10 yard header was held by Currie.
We were unfortunate again in the 78th minute when McKenzie’s long clearance was flicked on by Fyvie to McIntosh and his shot rebounded to safety off the legs of Currie.
Airdrieonians hit the woodwork for the second time, in the 82nd minute, when Euan Cornell’s shot from a tight angle on the left came back off the bar.
We looked the stronger side as the game moved into the latter stages and Fyvie saw a net-bound 15-yard shot blocked, deep into injury-time, as the Diamonds held out for a share of the spoils.
Airdrieonians: Currie, McCann, Kerr, Crighton, Fordyce, McKay, Gallagher (Connell 46), Robert (Stokes 85), Sabatini, Carrick (Thomson 77), Walker (Ritchie 77). Subs: Hutton, , O’Reilly, Hughes.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Scott Ross, Milne, Graham, Strachan, McIntosh, Yule, Fyvie, Scully, Masson, Megginson. Subs: Watson, McAllister, Livingstone, Semple, Seb Ross, Brown, Demus.
Referee: Graham Grainger.
