AIRDRIE UTD

QOS

Airdrie started brightly, stroking the ball around with confidence as Dunn, Roberts and Gow enjoyed the lions share of early possession. Gow in particular looked like a man on a mission after the weeks transfer buzz about him. Gow was always showing for the ball and looking to run at people and it’s fair to say he attacked the game with even more verve than usual. A definite sign that he’s increased his workrate again! Airdrie’s best moves were happening down the left with Gow and Dunn regularly making space for Roberts but twice Roberts crosses for Coyle and Varielle were too deep and Queens were off the hook. Queens for their part were not here to make up the numbers. Experienced and more than capable all over the park from the ‘twin towers’ of Reid and Thomson in defence, tenacious midfielder Bowey, tricky wingers Bagan and McLaughlin to the experienced Wood and McNiven up front, Queens gave Airdrie some testing moments too. McLaughlin, in particular, created havoc several times making Christie look clumsy and using the ball very cleverly to test McGeown from several angles with cross come shots.

Referee Mike McCurry managed to make a mockery of the game in the twelth minute when Queens defender Jim Thomson managed to get off with a fly kick at the prone Alan Gow who’d just been fouled. Thomson had quite clearly lashed out in anger at Gow and was attempting to intimidate him but inexplicably McCurry only spoke to the perpetrator, rather than show him the red card he deserved. Craig McEwan clone Chris Scott (Queens right full back) then made no excuses for a dreadful tackle on Mark Roberts as the Dumfries side tried to get on top no matter what it took. While we’re on the subject of McCurry, it has to be noted that this shocking referee managed to stop the game three times in the first half to allow treatment for phantom QOS injuries whilst Airdrie were in possession. I thought the referee had to stop play immediately for head knocks, and rightly so. To stop them for play actors feigning leg injuries makes football look like a kids game, and this McClueless guy is one of our best refs? The rest of the half was played out in typical cup tie spirit, the evenly contested midfield battle between Marv Wilson and Steve Bowey being the key battle and with Gow shining head and shoulders above anyone else. Special note must go to Marv Wilson who had a tremendous volleyed shot from distance that Scott had to tip over his bar. Marv would blot his copy book later though….

QOS brought on Emilio Jaconelli for David McNiven at half-time. Jaconelli certainly made a difference with his robust and direct style, flashing a powerful shot at McGeown within minutes of arriving on the pitch. Airdrie would self destruct after 15 minutes of the second half though. Under no real pressure, Marvyn Wilson, 30 yards from goal fluffed an easy pass back to McManus allowing Brian McLaughlin to nip in and release Jaconelli to square for Gary Wood to tap into the net. A sloppy mistake allowed us to be split like a kipper. Marvyn Wilson hung his head and never recovered from his mistake. Airdrie tried in vain to get back in the game with Dunn and Gow trying to drive them back into it, but were constantly up against a brick wall. Varielle on the right tried but often looked sluggish. Roberts was doing some good work deep on the left but in the box a few times he only managed to shoot at the keeper. Coyle hardly touched the ball all day, well marshalled by Brian (wee legs) Reid. Worryingly, Neil McGowan looked to have aggravated a shoulder injury in a challenge with Jaconelli.

About ten minutes from the end, and the game fading from our grasp, McGowan, looking sluggish with his right arm visibly troubling him, gave away a sloppy penalty by nudging Jaconelli. Tom English effortlessly netted the spot kick to kill the game stone dead. Airdrie brought on Stevie McKeown for McGowan but despite an energetic effort there was no way back.