AS Airdrie 4-2 Airdrieonians

By Neil Brown
October 27 2007

Airdrie picked up another vital Home win today with goals From Stewart(2) Gray & Clark.

Airdrie made two changes from last week's WoS Cup win with Grant & Cooper replacing Milne & K.Pardoe. The home side got off to a flyer when gray picked up the ball on the right hand side and as he drove towrds goal cut inside and rifled a left foot shot into the top corner. Airdrieonainas were quickly back in the game when there #7 got in behind and raced in on goal, Stewart tried to cut the angle but the wide man fired in at Rowans near post to make it 1-1. Airdrie had most of the play and were causing problems on both flanks and it was no suprise when they went back in front, Clark knocked down a crossball for Smith in the box and he managed to get it back into Clark's path for him to dril the ball into the net from 6 yards. Airdrie went on from there and Gray robbed the full back before showing him a clean pair of heels, the full back tried to redeem himself but could only bring Gray crashing down inside the box. Stewart stepped up to take responsibility and hammered the ball home for a 3-1 lead. Things got better for Airdrie and Stewart as a free kick on the left was rolled in to Stewart's path, although a little overhit Stewart adjusted his feet and fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to give Airdrie a 4-1 lead, the only sour point in an excellent first half was when Clark pulled his groin and had to be replaced by Capaldi.

Second half was minutes old when Airdrieonians got a goal back, again the number 7 showed pace to get away from Cooper and hit a good strike across Rowan into the far post this time. The away side were commiting men forward in the hope of getting back into the game and this allowed Airdrie to hit on the break, Capaldi tried to square to gray in the box but put the ball in the keepers hands and Gray worked an opening for Capaldi was denied by a last ditch challenge. Smith was booked for a foul to join Burton in the book who had been wrongly carded in the first half however the away side's wayward tackles seemed to go unpunished. Murray replaced Burton in the back three with 25 to go then Airdrie were reduced to 10 men after R.Graham had been brought down at the third attempt he kicked out at the culprit and the ref waved a red card booking the original offender. The away teams striker was lucky to stay on the field as he ran 30 yards and waded into to the crowd of bodies however this escaped the ref's attention. S.Graham replaced N.Pardoe with 10 mins left and Airdrie comfartably saw out the rest of the game to claim the 3 points. A good solid showing today with Smith and Gray turning in good performances but star man has to be Stewart solid at the back composed at the penalty and as good a goal as you'll see this season, superb.

Rowan

Burton Cooper Stewart

N.Pardoe Smith R.Graham Edgar Grant

Gray Clark

Capaldi for Clark (40)

Murray for Burton (65)

S.Graham for N.Pardoe (80)

Morrison (unused)