AIRDRIE UTD

Falkirk

Airdrie took some time to settle on the plastic pitch. The defenders, and defensive midfielders, had to rely more on ‘reading’ the game than normal. Accies had a massive aerial advantage in their pack too and were quick to pressurise Airdrie’s miniscule rearguard time and again from a spate of free kicks and corners. Accie’s raced into an early lead when Brian McPhee sprung clear of a flat footed defence to race away and easily beat young Hollis with barely 12 minutes on the clock. They almost double the lead shortly after that when giant defender McLaughlin rose unchallenged to head a corner goal-wards but thankfully Docherty was on hand to head off the line. Airdrie were beginning to fight back with Gow, McLaren and Coyle starting to combine well.

Midway through the first half Airdrie levelled after some magical play down the right side of the box by Alan Gow culminating in a pinpoint accurate cross that the league’s top scorer, the living legend Owen Coyle, gleefully headed beyond David McEwan in the Accies goal. Accies again roared back and the Airdrieonian’s goal lived a charmed life twice in quick succession as Airdrie couldn’t get out of their own box. Willie McLaren had to clear a shot across the face of goal off his own line but his clearance was again rattle goalwards by Carney but luckily Kevin Christie managed to throw his head in front of the shot to deflect it over our own crossbar.

After some increased pressure just before half-time Alan Gow worked a clever one-two with Owen Coyle on the edge of Accie’s box that allowed Gow to smash our second goal right footed beyond McEwan in style.

The second half started at the same pace as the second, but with Airdrie in the ascendancy this time. But the derby atmosphere took a decidedly nasty twist as Hamilton’s no. 8, Carney, a real fiery little scrapper went absolutely loopy and assaulted an Airdrie player (Docherty?, I couldn’t make out who…) with what looked like a flurry of punches from my viewpoint though TV pictures may clear up (I say that without considering it’ll be the Football First cameras of course…). After a 21 man battle was quelled with the usual pushing and shoving, ref Kenny Clark – him again – issued Carney with his second yellow of the game, and also booked Docherty and McLaughlin.

Accies kept the pressure on Airdrie despite being down to ten men, but Coyle, Gow and McLaren were also benefiting from the extra space. Coyle was unlucky on a couple of occasions to be flagged for offside whilst Hamilton had a vicious free kick well saved by Hollis, but the final word was left to our star man Alan Gow. Gowser was released around forty yards from goal. Heading slightly away from goals, Gowser had the presence to check back behind an Accies defender before curling his shot well past the stranded goalie for another to add to his collection.

Another good day at the office for Sandy Stewart’s mob that sees us move up to sixth place, and possibly a result away from fourth place. Alan Gow is looking every inch the star for us now since returning from his groin injury. He is a wonderful talent that we should be thankful we are allowed enjoy for the time being. I’m absolutely certain that we’re watching a future international striker. If there is a better 21 year old in this country I’ll be astounded. He has vision, skill and pace in abundance but with the chance to improve his game further in the next year or so, I just hope he chooses to prove himself with us. More performances like this one will see scouts from the real contenders visiting New Broomfield.