County Thistle 4-1 AS Airdrie

By Neil Brown
February 3 2009

County Thistle 4-1 AS Airdrie

County Thistle 4 AS Airdrie 1


airdrie were knocked out of the strathclyde cup by the third div leaders in a game that was closer than the result suggests.

with 8 players missing the manager had to make 5 changes to the side from 3 weeks ago.stewart,scott,edgar,shaw and gray all missing with leishman,n pardoe.brown,clark and capaldi.with k pardoe missing as well airdrie went into the game without their 3 top goal scorers.

right from the start there was chances for both sides with both defences looking very shaky indeed.thistle had the best of the chances and were especially dangerous down the left side with the number 9 and 11 posing big problems.however airdrie front two supported by lindsay were also making chances.thistle took the lead when the big striker cut in from the left and beat rowan at the near post.the best move of the first half should have saw the equaliser but capaldi was unable to take advantage.thistle nearly made it 2 but rowan saved well.right before half time lindsay almost drew airdrie level but the effort went wide.

county started the better in the second half with airdrie under pressure and yet again rowan had to look lively.however airdrie worked their way back into the game and should have scored when clark hit the bar from 6 yards out with the keeper beaten.moments later capaldi finally drew airdrie level with a strike from 18 yards.just as airdrie looked to push on leishman was harshly judged to have pulled down the number 9 inside the box.a penalty awarded and converted for 2-1.airdrie should have levelled minutes later but capaldi again missed the chance.thistle then hit the post,the home keeper made a fine save from a cooper header as the game opened up.changes were then made with brady and slavin on for r graham and leishman as airdrie pushed 3 men uo top.the next goal was crucial and with 10 to play the home team wrapped up the tie when play down the right side saw a cross converted by the number 7 from 6 yards.airdrie battled on and with a minute to go forced the home keeper into a great reflex save.from the break the number 11 ran about 60 yards only for smith to concede a penalty which again was tucked away.ft 4-1

first of all we wish county all the best in the next round.a decent side especially in midfield and upfront and should easily gain promotion from the third div and make an impact on div 2 next season.for airdrie yet another defeat in which is our worst run of results in our 5 plus years.however plenty of chances created today which should have saw capaldi with at least 4 goals and a couple of great saves.once again a lot of changes all over the park which at this level is hard to manage and with your 3 top scorers missing hard to overcome.again problems in defense but a changing back 4 on a weekly basis is tough.however we have to keep working hard and putting the effort in and hopefully the breaks will come.for me gary capaldi was m.o.m despite the good chances he missed.only a second appearance from the man with work preventing him being there more regularly but showed what a loss he has been upfront.good support as well from lindsay and clark who had a fine first half

team

rowan,leishman cooper s graham r graham,n pardoe lindsay smith brown,clark capaldi

brady for r graham(65)
slavin for leishman(65)
macfarlane(unused)