By Chris Mac
December 3 2003

Peat screws Airdrie again, but this time it was Mark Peat of Arbroath who saved Owen Coyles penalty two minutes before the end of the first half.

Airdrie United

McGeown

Dochert,Scott Wilson, Stewart, W.Wilson

 M. Wilson, Ronald, Dunn

Roberts

Vareille,  Coyle

 

As usual Airdrie started the game with a lot of possession, a lot of opportunities just no-one to put them away, even with Owen Coyle looking for every ball. But it was the pace of Arbroaths Iain Diack that created the first clear cut chance, his header skipped by the near post.

As always we seemed to struggle with corners and even with Mark McGeown finally reaching some of them, we just looked very suspect.

Our only real chance of the first half came when David Dunn made a run into the Arbroath box, Greg Henslee brought him down and it was Owen Coyle who stepped up to take the resultant spot kick. Unfortunately the keeper never had an easier shot to save all game, as the ball went straight at him.

It wasn't long before the dead lock was broken though, Airdrie on the attack again, this time the ball broke to Paul Ronald and from a few yards out he slipped the ball passed the keeper for his second goal of the season. Paul has been criticised in the past for his lack of talent, but last night he showed a little of what Sandy must see in him.

For maybe twenty minutes of the second half Airdrie played with the ball on the ground and linked well between defence-midfield and attack and then we went to sleep. Dunn and Willie Wilson both left a ball for each other and it was  Gavin Swankie who picked up the ball and charged through the Airdrie defence. Sandy was caught for pace and Swankies cross found Iain Diack who finished of the move with a goal.

The team then switched to the age old standard, hump it up field. Marvyn Wilson forgot who his team mates were and his passes or lack off only succeeded in putting us under more pressure.

Dosser replaced Varielle and as usual his direct approach was inspiring, Alan Gow who had looked a little down hearted when running the line replaced Willie Wilson but never had much of a chance to show anything. His passing play with David Dunn, who had dropped back to Wilsons position, on the Left caused Arbroath some problems but nothing that was direct enough to threaten the goal.

Our final substitution saw Sandy himself being replaced by Glancy, after the " gaffer" pulled up with a hamstring pull. We now had six out of our seven attackers on the field and still could get no further than the Arbroath eighteen yard line.

Check out Bob Dalzell's photo gallery of the game. Remember his photos are copyright controlled.

McGeown	Had a better game, some good catches from cross for a change	6/10
Willie Wilson	As usual tried very hard but the goal still came through the left wing	5/10
Alan McManus	Solid performance	6/10
Stewart	Struggled a bit for pace when the goal was scored and came of with a Hamstring pull in the second half	6/10
Docherty	Played well and was solid on the right side	5/10
Dunn	Back in mid-field and running at the opponents defence again vast improvement until injured in the second half	6/10
Paul Ronald	Took his goal well and and played well but just like the rest of the mid-field disappeared in the second half	7/10
Marvyn Wilson	As usual was everywhere in the first half but had nothing left in the second, Marv do you know your own team, please pass to them if you recognise them!!	4/10
Mark Roberts	Started the game well some nice touches, then went AWOL. can't remember seeing him in the second half at all.	6/10
Vareille	With Coyle being  double teamed you would have thought he would have got some room to play Anonymous	4/10
Coyle	When we started passing the ball he shone but the long balls were to far in front of him to be any use.	5/10