AIRDRIE UTD

Airdrie certainly had most of the possession in this game against what could best be described as a well organised and competitive team who were a credit to themselves. There did look to be a quality difference from first minute till the last but Montrose battled gamely without ever resorting to that great leveller, the boot. Jerome had a great chance in the first minute as he latched onto a long through ball from Henrik McManus (I couldn't resist that one), but he pulled his shot agonisingly wide. There would be a few half chances in the first half thanks to some clever promptings from the classy Mark Roberts but disappointingly nothing really came to fruition in a half that was ultimately disappointing despite our superiority.

It was obvious in that first half that Mark Roberts will make a huge difference this season. With his promptings and understanding with McKeown and Vareille another dimension has been added to our play. Roberts movement, touch, desire, and commitment was there to be seen. McKeown looked a pound or two lighter though he couldn't do right for doing wrong in that first period, Varielle looked more like the player who finished last season than the one who turned up last September. Defensively McGeown was his old self, McManus, despite the strapping looked capable as ever, Stewart looked like a thoroughbred, and McGowan had a refreshing crispness about his play. The wingbacks looked a bit weaker than the rest of the team though. On the right Willie Wilson plodded away but his end product was usually a lofted chip into the box that takes so long to arrive in the middle that the goalie and defence can have a quick cuppa before mopping up. He did what was asked of him defensively though. Dunn only came into the game after the break and overall was disappointing. He'll really need to up the tempo a bit to match the rest of the team. Marv, like McGowan, had a sharp edge to his game but his distribution verges on awful. Doc was busy in the middle but as ever his late runs into the box were usually a fraction late and again, nothing came of his 'flying head butts' that are becoming his trademark.

The second half was ten minutes old when Airdrie took the lead. Dunn lined up a free kick about twenty five yards out and his powerful shot, travelling wide, cannoned off McKeown and into the net. A touch of luck but Dosser seemed quite certain of his contribution when claiming it. Five minutes late the lead was doubled when Roberts timed a wonderful through ball to send McKeown scurrying clear from just over the half way line to finish in some style. Hopefully a sign of things to come! Roberts and Docherty made way for Ronald and Gow shortly after and Glancy replaced Dunn a bit later as Airdrie comfortably held on to advance to round two.