Forfar (1) v. Airdrie (3) : 23/3/04

AIRDRIE UTD

Airdrie started the match at whirlwind pace as Vareille won an early corner. McLaren’s kick was headed goalward by Kevin Christie but Forfar managed to scramble the ball off the line on this occasion. Jerome had another chance soon after to play in McLaren at the back post but couldn’t get the ball over quick enough and the chance was lost. Airdrie kept plugging away and were finally rewarded when forceful play from Dunn resulted in Coyle crossing for McLaren to score with a majestic volley from the edge of the box after less than quarter of an hour.

Airdrie extended their lead a few minutes later when Christie headed home what seemed like Airdrie’s fifth or sixth corner of that opening 20 minutes but Forfar managed to pull one back midway through the half when Ferry finished well after breeching Airdrie’s defensive line. Neil McGowan was booked for protesting far too zealously about the scorer’s offside position. Airdrie did have the right to feel aggrieved as skipper Stephen Docherty had been injured in an ugly tackle by Paul Tosh in the build up, and had to go off, Marvyn Wilson replacing him.

Mark Roberts was another victim early in the second half from another horrendous challenge that left him with a gashed leg. Roberts was attempting to win possession, his display an improvement on recent form, when a Forfar midfielder lunged at him two footed. The referee chose to ignore the foul and keep his cards in his pocket. Ironically, a Forfar player was eventually booked for kicking the ball away. Two players injured and no bookings for either foul. Roberts had to be replaced by Alan Gow and the lanky striker’s return sparked Airdrie into a spell of high octane, electrifying, free flowing football. Gow combined superbly with Coyle, McLaren, and the awesome David Dunn, to carve apart the Forfar rearguard at ease. With quarter of an hour left Coyle chased down a loose ball that Forfar were trying to shield past the bye line. Coyle won the ball, held off a couple of challenges, looked up, and passed to McLaren who was steaming in at the back post, to deflect home and tie up the three points.

The win leaves Airdrie six points clear of third placed Hamilton. Airdrie were again absolutely solid in defence. There’s not much you can say about the outstanding displays from all four defenders that hasn’t bee said in previous weeks. They are undoubtedly the best defensive unit we’ve had for many moons. In midfield, Marvyn Wilson had his best outing for several months. Gone was the shell shocked, over worked, almost depressed looking player of January (wouldn’t you be if you had to carry Ronaldo?), and in was a vibrant, crisp tackling, simple pass making, player who grew in confidence with every interception. Marv looked to be sitting deeper, content to let the rampaging David Dunn carry the attack from midfield. And of course up front things clicked into place when Gow came off the bench. The link up between Gow, Coyle, McLaren and Dunn is absolutely electric. The pace with which these four break at is phenomenal and looks good enough to carry the fight in Division One next season if we can secure promotion (touch wood).