IFA League 5th October 2002 Rawyards, Airdrie.

It was a decimated squad which turned up at the Leisure Centre, with up to 7 regulars missing for one reason or another. Most notable of these was goalkeeper Rab the Cat, Ken Beeby stepping in to make his ‘Swally debut between the sticks. On a positive note though Stewart Cook made a welcome return after an arm injury to make his first start of the season.

Airdrie made a storming start, and ignored the mudbath of a pitch to play some excellent football. Within the first 35 minutes, they had stormed into a 4 goal lead through a brace apiece from Cookie and big Tam, and if truth be told could have been 6 or 7 up.

However a lapse in concentration 5 minutes from the break saw a turning point in the game, as the visitors scored 2 cracking goals from the edge of the box.

Despite going in at the break 2 goals for the better, a psychological blow had been dealt, especially since everyone was starting to tire and we lost our one and only sub as Craig Hamilton mumbled some excuse about ushering at a wedding in an hours’ time. Pretty legit excuse I suppose.

With the heads down , Queens scored a third five minutes into the 2nd half to reduce the deficit to 1, and begin what was to become an amazing 45 minutes of football.

The equaliser looked inevitable, but just when it looked like coming, a long defensive clearance found Cookie who outpaced the away defence before slotting the ball past the keeper.

The visitors weren’t finished there though, and shortly afterwards scored their 4th after a scramble in the box from a dangerous inswinging corner.

Again Airdrie surged forward though, this time through Allsop whose cross from the right was handled unluckily in the box by the away centre half. Shanks took the spot kick and duly converted with his usual nonchalance.

A similar run up the right wing from Allsop only minutes later led to the 7th goal. Charging into the box, he slipped the ball to Love who, with only the keeper to beat, completely missed the ball as it slipped through his legs. The ball however landed at the feet of a back-peddling defender who could only steer the ball past the wrong footed keeper.

With the score now 7-4, the home team had hoped that the Queens’ heads would go down, but this just seemed to drive them on even further, and they fought back to score another 2 to make the score 7-6. It has to be said that some of the defending from the home defence and midfield was absolutely shocking, but full credit to the visitors for battling away.

It was Cookie again though, who against the run of play scored what was to be Airdrie’s clincher with a carbon copy of his 3rd - latching on to a long defensive clearance to outpace the defence and slot the ball past the keeper. God knows how many goals he has scored like this in the last 3 years for the team.

But surprise surprise the game wasn’t finished there, as the visitors broke forward immediately from the kick off and scored their seventh. It was schoolyard stuff by now, and from the kick off Allsop charged forward only to see his pass to Cook intercepted at the last minute to stop what looked a certainty to be Airdrie’s 9th. With both players grounded due to cramp, Queens raced up the park, and found themselves through in a one-on-one situation, but Beeby pulled off a fantastic stop in what was to be the last action of the game to ensure Airdrie held onto a famous victory.

Notable mentions go to Cookie for scoring 4 in his first game back since injury; Ken Beeby who despite letting in 7 goals had a great game and undoubtedly won the game with his last minute save (his introduction to the team also means there is 3 sets of brothers playing for the team); Dougy and Beavis for some fine attacking runs down the right from the back; and lastly the visitors for an excellent display - one which really deserved more than the defeat they suffered. But hey-ho, we’ll take the 3 points.

NB. No thanks go to old age and cramp which was a major factor in the 2nd half collapse. Boo to you.

Team : K.Beeby; Allsop; A.Love; Dyet; McMillan; Wyatt; C.Hamilton; Shanks; Cook; N.Love; M.Beeby. Subs :- Mackie.

Next Game :- Home to CSN Dumbarton November 9th Calderbank Grass