Airdrie draw with Perth Saints in Cup heartbreaker

Saints enjoyed the best of the possession in the first 20 minutes and came close with a flashing shot from McCulloch that skimmed across Mark McGeown's goal, needing a goal line clearance in the first couple of minutes. That would prove to be the best saints move in the first 89 and a half minutes despite the slight majority of the play. Airdrie took a good twenty minutes of pressure soaking play to get going. Thandfully most of Saints play was going through right back Robertson. Sandy Stewart had very obviously kept things well organised.

That's not to say Airdrie were totally outplayed. We did have some decent moves and chances. Jerome 'profligate' Vareille found space in the box and seemed to be held back as he shot. Strike one to the ref with the dodgy hairdo. Then a terrific pass from 'midfielder' Stephen McKeown found Jerome Vareille in the box but the French 'profligate' striker's shot seemed to take a touch off a defender's leg. Strike two to the ref with the dodgy hairdo! Despite all the bad refereeing, usual offsides and blatant unpunished fouls, Airdrie were beginning to get into the game. McGuire was starting to get used as an outlet and was running at them, especially as Robertson was being too adventurous down their right.

And it would prove to be our blessing as Airdrie took the lead on the stroke of half time. Stevie McKeown was played in down the right by an awful pass. As we've come to expect though, Dosser played on a headed flick to HIMSELF, and beat his marker before driving a cross from the right accross the goalmouth to McGuire who steadied himself with his first touch before shooting past Main in the Saints goal.

Airdrie seemed even more comfortable in the second half as the full timers became more desperate. Some awful tacking by midfield dinousaur, Mark Reillosaurus, and Grant, I'll half you in two Mr. McGuire if it's the last thing I do, Murray told a story in itself. Airdrie battled like the great cup team we are but despite counting down the seconds till the next round, Jim Ballantyne's dream tie as it transpires, sub Lee Gardner found himself in acres of space with only about five minutes remaining with a one on one with the goalie to bury the tie. Not exacly my favourite player as it is, he managed to tamely shoot straight at the goalie when the tie could, and should, have been buried. Would we live to regret that one?

Would we live to regret that one? Understatemement of our short lifetime! Seconds from the end of play Saint's sub Mark Baxter chipped Mark McGeown with a back post cross that floated into the Airdrie net for the most sickening goal of the season. Yes even more sickening than Roddy Grant's 40 yarder. There was no way back. Well Gardner had another chance but not as easy as the tie winner that he blew.

What a bloody bummer that was. A cup upset and potential future enhancing old firm away tie in the bag completely screwed up, hopefully temporarily. Certainly there's not a lot to be scared of in the replay, hopefully with Vella and Gow back.