Forfar (1) v. Airdrie Utd (1) - 4/10/03

AIRDRIE UTD

Airdrie settled quickly and within a couple of minutes Stephen Docherty fired a ferocious shot just under the bar that was tipped over in acrobatic fashion. However, to add to the biting cold temperature and stiff breeze at kick off, Airdrie found themselves playing into an increasingly solid wind for most of the first half. As the wind sped up Airdrie found themselves fighting an increasing rearguard action and isolated strikers, Glancy and Gow, just couldn't get going thanks mainly to a lack of support. Worse was to follow on the half hour as Marvin Wilson, who'd moments earlier escaped conceding a penalty with a handball, injured his ankle in a midfield challenge and had to go off. As Airdrie were preparing to bring on Singbo in his place, Forfar scored from a left wing cross, headed onto the cross bar for Barry Sellars to poke home the rebound with the otherwise impressive Stewart and McGowan watching.

With the wind at their backs in the second period Airdrie failed to take a grip of the game and again started in the same mode. Both strikers still looked out of sorts, with Glancy looking totally spent, Wilson equally hopeless on the left, Dunn and Singbo misfiring in midfield, Roberts anonymous in the 'hole', the defence passing to no-one, Airdrie were going nowhere quick. Even worse as news spread that Morton were getting stuffed. The fans wanted change and in particular Vareille and McKeown. Vareille was first up in place of Glancy - the improvement immediate, but that alone didn't seem like enough. A few minutes later Stewart took the time to inform the dugout to get Dosser on for Willie Wilson and to change to our best formation, 424. Varielle on the right, McKeown in the middle and Gow on the left of the attack, with Roberts playing off them. Docherty, McManus, Stewart and McGowan formed the defence. After a short bedding in period Airdrie took the ascendancy for the closing period and started to look like a team.

Airdrie's first real chance came when Gow was fouled on the edge of the box. When the ball landed at Jerome's feet inside the box it looked like advantage should be played, especially as Dosser was pulling the trigger but as the ball rolled into the net the ref inexplicably pulled play back for the free kick which Roberts fluffed. Airdrie were starting to look like a better team at long last. Singbo and Dunn got going, Gow improved, Roberts became increasingly influential, whilst Vareille with his clever link up play and attacking instict coupled with McKeowns directness and ability to hold things up and look for the easy pass, gave Airdrie a better look. And the goal finally came. Vareille and Dosser combined to play in Gow on the left and he beat the goalie with ease. Moments later Gow had his feet taken away from him on the move inside the Forfar box but the hopeless ref looked away rather than upset the massive home support.

At the end of the game there was a sense of relief amongst the fans that a point had been salvaged but the fans know we are capable of better. The 5212 formation isn't working. The wingback situation isn't creating width attack wise and the strikers are going too wide to find space, rather than creating havoc in the box. They aren't getting enough support either. When we go to 424 with the 'Diamond' up front we are concentrating play in the last third where our best players - any four from Vareille, Roberts, Glancy, Gow and McKeown - are playing. The four at the back and the midfield two are protection enough in this league. Most fans want to see us concentrate on attack and when we do this we look at our best. The last twenty minutes proved this. Lastly, though we missed Marvyn Wilson when he went off it was heartening again to see Singbo settle in so well into the midfield. As the game went on they formed a good understanding and the African looks like he is improving by the game.