Dunbreac 1-6 AS Airdrie
By C.MacFarlane
September 16 2006
DUNBREAC 1 AS AIRDRIE 6
Airdrie secured their 2nd away win of the season with a 6-1 hammering of last years div 2 champions at Nether Pollock. Four first half goals saw Airdrie comfortable and although Dunbreac had the majority of the play in the 2nd half Airdrie ran out easy winners in the end.
Airdrie got off to a great start and took the lead after 3 minutes. Good play down the left between 3 and 4 players saw the ball break to Edgar and his shot across the goal was neatly finished by Gray. Airdrie started like a train and the football in the first 25 minutes was excellent with the midfield and front men creating all sorts of havoc for the stretched Dunbreac defence. After a couple of saves from the keeper Airdrie made it two after they were awarded a soft penalty and leading scorer K.Pardoe tucked the resultant penalty away. Cooper then tried his luck when his chip hit the bar then Gray fired wide from 6 yards. The Dunbreac defence was getting caught and Capaldi and Gray were working the defence ably supported by the midfield. The home team’s efforts in the first half were easily dealt with by the Airdrie defence although the numbers 7 and 9 looked lively. Airdrie made it 3 after 27 minutes when a ball that was cleared from an Airdrie corner found Ross Graham. Graham then hit a tremendous pass to K.Pardoe out wide left and his first time crossed ball was hammered into the net by his brother N.Pardoe. Dunbreac then had their best spell of the first half but Airdrie should have been out of sight by this point and should have been awarded another penalty when Hendrie was upended in the box. However number four arrived when fine play down the left again saw Edgar fire in another effort which rather luckily found K.Pardoe to header into the net. Ht 4-0
The second half was an altogether different half. Dunbreac, undoubtedly fired up to avoid a real thumping, came out the blocks flying and they hit the post then had another chance blocked on the 6 yard line by Graham. Airdrie started in 3rd gear but they still managed to create 2, 3 super chances to finish the home team off. Gray then Capaldi both had great chances that were passed up then the keeper pulled of a fine save from Capaldi. Dunbreac however kept plugging away and got their reward when, after a scramble in the Airdrie box, the ball fell to the striker who hit home for 4-1. Airdrie made their first change with Thompson on for N.Pardoe then Burton came on for K.Pardoe as they went to a 4-4-2 to match Dunbreac who by this point had stuck three up front. However on the break Airdrie looked dangerous and from one such opportunity a fine through ball found Capaldi in on goal. As he went to finish the defender clearly caught him from behind but amazingly the ref waved play on. With 12 minutes to go Airdrie made their third sub when S Graham came on for the injured Stewart. Airdrie eventually made it 5 with 3 minutes to go. A free kick was awarded 25 yards out and the resultant shot from R Graham blasted into the top corner. In the last minute Capaldi got the goal he deserved when, after Graham had hit the post, the ball rebounded off Capaldi as the defender tried to clear it. Final score 6-1
This game is hard to sum up despite the score. The first half saw Airdrie score 4 create another 6 chances at least have a stonewall penalty claim turned down by an otherwise excellent referee, and played some great football. In contrast the second half was the opposite in terms of possession but again in clear cut chances Airdrie missed 4 or 5 one on ones although they did score 2 more. But the feeling before the end and after the game was one of how did we not win that game by 7 or 8. Instead at 4-1 we were all over the place. Despite our poor second half display we have to give credit to Dunbreac for their 2nd half performance. They scored one and could have had a couple more. But it’s very hard to be critical after winning 6-1 away from home.
Team
Stewart Cooper R.Graham
N.Pardoe Edgar Smith Hendrie
K.Pardoe
Gray Capaldi
Thompson for N.Pardoe
Burton for K.pardoe
S.Graham for Stewart