Tantallon 0-7 AS Airdrie
By Neil Brown
February 24 2010
Tantallon 0-7 AS Airdrie
Airdrie booked a 2nd Round home clash with Blairdardie in the Strathclyde cup after a comprehensive win over Tantallon Victoria at Springburn carpet factory. With a good turn out Airdrie afforded to leave out top scorer Kenny Pardoe Captain Stuart Smith and defensive mainstay Cooper, Ross Graham the only absentee. Slevin, Lindsay and Brady came into the side that drew 3-3 in the last game at Clydebank.
Airdrie were busy from the off and Capaldi had a couple of long-range efforts just off target in the early stages coming in off the left flank. Edgar also had a 20-yard shot well saved after 10 minutes. Two minutes later the keeper had to look lively again as Shaw’s fine run saw him into the area but shot straight at the keeper. Airdrie begun to turn the screw and Capaldi Edgar and Lindsay all had shots blocked one after the other after Capaldi had worked himself an opening. Pressure paid off after 15 minutes as Shaw picked up the ball in his own half and set off on a run, which carved Tantallon open and found a pinpoint pass through for Capaldi who rounded the keeper before slotting home. Shaw had a good penalty claim turned down as he was brought down inside the area, perhaps the ball had slightly run ahead of him before being tripped. Shaw, who had switched flanks, then sprayed a 30 yard pass to the left for Brady who collected the ball over his shoulder bore down on goal and picked his spot with a fine finish to make it 2-0 after 30 minutes. Five minutes later Shaw, from the left this time, picked up the pieces on some loose defending to keep a move alive then squared the ball into the six yard box for Brady who controlled with an nice touch before volleying home from close range for his second of the match. A couple of minutes before half time Shaw got in on the act after Gray, who had being doing a lot of spade work, found him inside the area and after his initial effort was blocked Shaw slammed home the second chance. Half Time 4-0.
Robertson made his first start for the club as a half time replacement for Scott Graham and slotted in beside Slevin at the back. Airdrie began where they left off and Gray should have made it five early in the second half but fired over from close range. Seven minutes in Shaw did make it five as a great cross from Neil Pardoe was met on the run, his header flew past the keeper giving him n o chance. Just a few minutes later it was six as Lindsay played in Capaldi who made no mistake in collecting his second of the match. Airdrie replaced the hard working Gray with Clark after 60 minutes and a few minutes later he set up Edgar for the seventh. A through ball was controlled well by Clark on the edge of the box and he managed to slide a pass off to Edgar who drilled home a shot low into the bottom corner to complete the scoring. Hetherington replaced Shaw with 20 minutes left Though there was no more scoring Airdrie continued to create, Brady should have had his treble but spooned over from close range, Clark had a long range free kick well held and Clark again was foiled by the keeper as he tried to curl a shot in at the far post from the left of the box. Full Time 7-0.
A thorough performance from Airdrie with good displays all over the pitch, no one fell short of what was required, from the regulars who were left out to everyman on the pitch to the unused subs the attitude was spot on. Weather permitting we hope to carry all these positives on to our future league and cup games. Good luck to Tantallon who have plenty to work with and kept trying to play till the end.
MOM: Ian Shaw
Rowan
McCall S.Graham Slevin N.Pardoe
Shaw Lindsay Edgar Capaldi
Gray Brady
Robertson for S.Graham (45)
Clark For Gray (60)
Hetherington for Shaw (70)
M.Brown
Smith