Airdrie (2) v. St. Johnstone (1): Hogmanay 2005

AIRDRIE UTD

St. Johnstone

FIRST HALFA heavy surface seemed to slow down Airdrie in the opening stages of this one. Robertson had to look lively to keep out his old club early on. The first twenty minutes were like a chess match with Airdrie concentrating on keeping the dangerous Jason Scotland quiet. The breakthrough for St. Johnstone came from a less likely source though as Mensing picked up a loose ball from a corner in the ‘D’. As Stephen McKeown went to close him down, he used an arm to knock the ball away. The offence happened a yard outside the penalty area but the referee inexplicably pointed to the spot. Despite furious protestations Sheerin easily sent Robbo the wrong way. If anything that woke Airdrie up and it was only a matter of minutes before Bryan Prunty was upended in the Saints box. Stephen McKeown powered his kick past Cuthbert who’d guessed rightly but couldn’t get to the ball. Airdrie had upped a gear and were playing some scintillating stuff. McPhee was combining well with MacDougall down the right and both players combined to send MacDougall scurrying away on a counter attack when he was cynically scythed down by Mensing who was booked for his ‘efforts’. The four Airdrie forwards combined for Airdrie’s winning goal. MacDougall centred from the right wing, McPhee and Prunty carved out a pass to McLaren who’d come steaming in at the back post to stroke home a fine finish to a fine move. The half ended in controversy as Jason Scotland petulantly cried like a baby after an excellent defensive tackle from Paul Lovering. Scotland lay down, writhed about, limped off, bounced back on, head-butted McKenna, and seemed to pick a fight with Lovering as the teams went off at the break. Not a very good day for the Perth ‘prima-donna’.

MATCH UP After being caught short by Jason Scotland earlier in the season it was fairly obvious that Airdrie would have Neil McGowan detailed to carry out a fairly tight marking job. McGowan performed way above his recent level and never gave the world cup striker an inch. Brian McPhee, starting his first game in three weeks, ran the Perth back line ragged and beat Kevin James to every high ball. McPhee dropped off the front line to great effect to combine with MacDougall and McLaren. Saints took Scotland off at half time, probably to protect the prima-donna from himself, and, in an act reeking of desperation, put Kevin James up front with half and hour left.

SECOND HALFNot much to write home about after the interval. Scotland was off and Dobie came on. Airdrie carved out the games best chance for Bryan Prunty, but Prunty’s deft finish agonisingly trickled wide of the post. Saints threw Kevin James up front and went 343 but couldn’t really trouble the Airdrie goal, Robertson making a vital late save to preserve the win. Hilariously it took about the twentieth consecutive foul from Mensing in the last minute to produce the long awaited red card. Quite why it took so long is anyone’s guess but a good way to end the year.

GOING FORWARD Monday’s game against Hamilton gives us a chance to move into the top half of the table but my biggest worry is the possibility of leg strains from 2 games in 3 days, especially with a big cup game on Saturday at Dunfermline. Earlier in the week I had advocated that we make a few changes for this game to give Coyle, Docherty, Holmes, Barkey and Dunn a game but I was pulled up by big Col for being ridiculous about making too many changes. In fairness he’s probably right (I’ve probably been influenced by baseball too much where wholesale changes can be accommodated more easily), we should start at Hamilton with our strongest side available (the same XI that started against Saints) and again look to get any tired strained looking players out before injuries happen.