Windlaw 2-2 AS Airdrie

Windlaw started the better and had an early shout for a penalty when the ball hit Stewart on the arm inside the box but the ref waved their claims away as it was accidental. Airdrie took the lead after 10 minutes when a lovely ball from Smith split the home defence and there was Gray to run on, go round the keeper and end with a composed finish(imagine saying ally and composed in the same sentence!).However Airdrie being they the lead lasted a minute. A ball into the box was poorly dealt with and the resultant ball back into the middle saw Stewart caught under the ball and the number 9 knock a good ball across the box to McGinley who finished neatly. Windlaw had a good bit of the ball and the number 9 nearly scored a peach after 25 minutes. Beating one man then megging R Graham his attempt looked destined for the top corner but a great touch from Rowan in goal saw the ball strike the bar and S.Graham clear the rebound. The same player also hit the post not long after. For Airdrie Pardoe, who had a good first half, fired just wide from the edge of the box. However the home team went in front after the half hour. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and as the ball ran to the edge of the box bard hit a shot that was going nowhere until it took a big deflection off Scotty on the 6 yard box leaving rowan helpless. but Airdrie battled right back and drew level after 40.good running from Kenny sprung the offside trap and as he held the ball up for the support to arrive he played a short pass to Pardoe who created a space then curled a fine effort into the far bottom corner.

half time 2-2

No changes at half time as Airdrie looked to build on their late equaliser in the first half but it was the home team who went on to enjoy the bulk of the second half possession but rarely bothered rowan in goal. for Airdrie Gray and Kenny were working hard and Gray was finding good space down the channels as the windlaw defence was leaving gaps at the back for Airdrie to try and expose. Halfway through windlaw were awarded a penalty when the ref judged that stevie had tugged a jersey inside the box. Despite the protests the decision stood and up stepped McGinley but his good effort toward the keeper’s right hand side was superbly touched round the post by rowan. This gave Airdrie a lift and the defence stood resolute in the remaining 20 minutes. Dougal became the first booking in the game with a cynical challenge on Gray out on the sideline after the Airdrie man had knocked the ball by him. For me it should have been a red card but cause it wasn’t a goal scoring opportunity the ref produced only yellow. McGinley then was fortunate that the ref missed him flicking his boot toward smith after a challenge. Airdrie then pressed on for the winner but the final ball was poor and the support wasn’t there. Two changes near the end saw smith and Pardoe off and kaz and mark on in their place. no more chances in the remaining minutes and the game ended in a 2-2 draw

full time 2-2 

A decent performance from Airdrie after their struggles in their 2 pre season games but the guys worked hard especially with vital players missing. Kenny and Gray did a lot of work and the midfield and defence dealt with most attacks and especially with the diagonal balls windlaw were playing for most of the game into the Airdrie box. Good debuts from stevie at right back and cammy in the centre. Good first half from Pardoe which Airdrie expect to see more often and a very steady game from Scotty on the opposite side. Rowan was pretty solid for most of the game apart from 2 or 3 late shouts and Edgar in the middle who put in a good shift with smith struggling with his hamstring. not a win but encouraging stuff especially after pre season and barlia is never an easy place to come too and teams will have too play really well to get three points there. We wish the windlaw guys all the best for the rest of the season

I would also like to note that the ref, Jim Foy, had a good game and we look forward to maybe seeing him later in the year