AIRDRIE UTD

Raith

Airdrie took the initiative right from the start. Marvyn Wilson and Martin Hardie were immediately running the midfield, though sometimes the passing left a bit to be desired, but these guys play the game with such energy and force that most D1 sides are struggling to compete with them. Gow was back though not looking 100%. He dropped off the front line to good effect and, despite any real end product, we looked a vastly improved side from last week. Defensively, Christie, McGowan and Lovering were more than comfortable with whatever the pitiful Raith side could throw at them.

Despite their dominance in terms of possession and quality, Airdrie had little real goalmouth action to talk about in the bleak, first half hour. McLaren looked menacing a few times and was delivering some good ball into the box, but with Raith packing their central defence it was going to take some patience. Raith, annoyingly, had three rather tame efforts before Airdrie made their goalie work, Owen Coyle blasting right footed at him. McLaren out paced the defence, face it he could probably walk past Shaun Dennis, but was inches away from clipping the ball over the goalie. There was a flurry of action in the last minute of the half with Roberts, Coyle and McLaren having half chances to secure an interval lead.

There was no let up in pressure in the second half as Airdrie hit into the end our fans were congregating. Owen Coyle clipped the crossbar with a lovely free kick that dropped onto the Raith goal line. Despite frantic efforts to convert, we had to make do with a corner after a classic ‘stramash’. Gow and McLaren were dominating play, the latter seemingly capable of outstripping his marker at the drop of a hat. The goal finally came midway through the half. Gow and McLaren had made the play down the left. The ball found it’s way over to Roberts at the far post. It had looked like Roberts should attack the ball with one thing in mind, but on this occasion Roberts took a touch and spotted Martin Hardie rampaging in like a bucking bronco before lifting an inch perfect cross for the big mad mental midfielder to bullet home the header, sparking off some wild celebrations from him and his team-mates.

There were a few other moments in the game but as time ticked, two minutes to go to be precise, a wild sliced clearance from Mark McGoewn almost let Raith snatch an thoroughly undeserved point, but the keeper’s blushes were spared. Seconds later sub. Jerome Vareille was sent clear on the halfway line. The big French striker raced powerfully clear of the Raith defence and angled a powerful drive that was blocked by the Raith goalie, but, thanks to his magnificent stamina levels, dynamic Airdrie midfielder Marvyn Wilson had incredibly matched Vareille’s run and was on hand to tap in the rebound to make the win safe.

A well ground out win against a side we should have beat comfortably, though we had to wait patiently for the breaks. Airdrie looked like they could have played all night without being troubled today, but there was still an undercurrent of nervousness in the defence than need ironed out. Christie and McGowan look dominant for 95% of the games but too often their passing goes awry. Same too for the midfield, though I think that this uncharacteristic problem is something that is receding slowly and will probably disappear in time.

I’m not sure what to make of our right wing. Vareille looked very good when he came on and I’m still disappointed by Roberts. He looks a tidy player at times, but too often I don’t think he’s at the races at all. He looks really lazy at times but not in the way that’s endearing. That said he was on hand to supply a killer pass for the goal. It makes me wonder what Vareille could have contributed in his place over 90 minutes though? Who would you rather see against Falkirk next week? Still, that’s Sandy Stewart’s problem, and, knowing Sandy, he’ll probably stick with his side till it’s broken, though I can’t see him stick with Willie Wilson ahead of Docherty next week despite the wee man doing a thoroughly professional job today. That would be taking loyalty just a wee bit too far.