Clydebank Thistle (3) V (3) A.S Airdrie
By Allstars #9
November 4 2003
The Airdrie Allstars traveled to Clydebank Rugby Club without leg break victim Ross Hendrie, Mitch moved to the center of midfield in his absence with Neil Pardoe restored to the back three.
3-5-2
N.Pardoe - C.Mcfarlane - G.Drummond
F.Burton - S.Mitchell - K.Pardoe - S.Walker
A.Gray
J.Hamilton - D.Khorrasani
C.Findlay 45
N.Brown 65
G.Arbuckle 85
S.Graham
G.Trench
To say the first half was scrappy is an understatement, the tight pitch with a slight slope and many ruts was not suiting Airdrie’s passing game . Clydebank’s style was hoof it past the midfield and charge which wasn’t pretty but effective and it was they who had the best chance of the first half as they broke through on the right, the strikers shot was heading for the top corner but Johnny pulled of a great save to push it over the bar.Airdrie’s best chance fell to James who beat the goalie to a ball 30 yards out but his lofted shot drifted wide of the goal and the half ended at 0-0
A.S coach Humo shuffled his pack at half time with Craig replacing Sonic at right mid and Neil Pardoe moving to center mid as Mitch moved back to his defensive role.This gave A.S the boost that was needed as Ally picked up a loose ball at the halfway line and played it wide to Darran who had lost his marker, Daz then skipped past the next defender and cut the ball back for Kenny to side foot volley into the net and executed a superb digging dance to celebrate!!!.
The joy was short lived though as the ref( who was the worst ever) gave another strange descision and awarded a free kick to Clydebank for !! well I still don’t know what for, Clydebank took there chance and fizzed one into the bottom left hand corner to level the game up. Another well worked move saw the Allstars regain the lead, Stevie Walker picked up the ball and ran at the defence down the right then moved the ball inside to Ally (or was it Kenny !!) who in turn slid the ball on to Darran on the left who coolly slotted the ball home for his second of the season. Coach Humo then threw on Neily for James in a straight swap up front. Clydebank once again got back into it when a punted ball through was missed by Gordy who was unlucky to stumble while trying to clear the ball, this left the Clydebank striker a clear run on goal and he finished well from around 10 yards.
Allstars went in front again with another quality goal, athrow in from the left was gathered by Neily who turned his marker and stepped into the box and squared it for Neil Pardoe to curl the ball into the top corner for what looked like the winner, however minutes from time keeper Johnny lost out in a race for the ball which allowed the Clydebank player to lift it over him into the empty net to level the game at 3-3.
A point on the road is not a bad result but Airdrie can feel hard done by after a good second half performance and 3 quality goals .
M.O.M Stuart Mitchell