AIRDRIE UTD

Clyde

Airdrie had the bulk of the possession and chances in this game from start to finish though Clyde threatened a few occasions. Airdrie played the more creative football but you only needed to look at the formations to see why. Clyde went with an unashamed 532 formation with the sole intention of forming an 8 man blockade in front of Halliwell’s goal and relying on the beaverish work rate of Ian Harty to create any kind of opening. Alan Gow, Airdrie’s main threat as ever, was finding the going tough as he was constantly surrounded by two, sometimes even three, men when in possession of the ball. McLaren was marked by the equally quick Clyde wingback Bryson. But despite the formidable defensive action by Clyde, Airdrie did make a succession of chances. Roberts was unlucky from a McLaren cross and both Coyle and Gow couldn’t find enough time to get clinical enough finishes.

Clyde did have chances too. Mensing had a header from a corner that went narrowly over, and McGeown had to make a couple of very timely saves. Defensively Airdrie were coping fairly well, though there was always the threat of a temporary meltdown in such horrible conditions, especially as McManus was finding his footing difficult.

Airdrie started the second half in determined fashion and created a handful of ‘gilt-edged’ chances. Coyle in particular just couldn’t get anything on his left peg with enough strength, Gow was having similar problems, and the least said about Docherty’s miss-kick when it looked certain he’d score the better. Willie McLaren wasn’t having a good game and when he did get ‘fed’ in he chose to shoot from an improbable angle and failed to even force a goal-kick. If anyone needs a firm pitch and a cheap goal to restore some lost confidence it’s McLaren.

Clyde’s attacks were still causing the odd headache and the threat from Harty still relevant as Airdrie’s midfield tired after their hectic schedule. Hardie and Wilson in the midfield had been overworked in both the previous matches this week and it looked like their legs were turning to jelly – to the point that Roberts was deployed ‘in one’ to help out. But Clyde still managed to pull off the sucker punch that was threatening. A long ball had Docherty all over the shop as sub Gilhaney capitalised and crossed into the box. Airdrie’s clearance only fell to Jones on the edge of the box and the big frontman, in acres of space, needed no excuses to bury his effort past McGeown.