By
April 30 2006

The final match of season 2005 – 2006 was expected to be a dull and boring affair, but with a game full of mistakes and six goals it was anything but…

Airdrie started well enough with Willie McLaren moving from wing to wing switching with Stephen McDougall and trying to put Brechin City under pressure. However, Brechin would make the opening break through.

A mistake in the Airdrie box or lack of communication between Docherty and Robertson resulted in Scott Devlin having the simplest of tap in to make the Airdrie defence look stupid, A theme that would continue through out this match.

 

On the stroke of half time, Brian Prunty scored the equalising goal. A cross from Willie McLaren found Stewart Taylor at the back post but his header went straight towards Brechin keeper Hillcoat the rebound fell in to Prunty’s path and a simple header later and it was one each. This goal secured Brian as the Bells First Division top goal scorer of the season, well in alphabetical order anyway, as Jason Scotland of St Johnstone has the same amount of goals.

 

The second half started quickly and on forty-eight minutes Brechin once again took the lead through Devlin. In a tactical change, Brian McPhee replaced Gary Twigg and it immediately paid dividends. A mix up in the Brechin defence and then a mix up between Kevin Barkey and Brian McPhee saw the ball break in to some space, McPhee spun and shot and scored the equaliser two – two and only five minutes of the second half gone.

 

Still it was not over, as the defence stood around day dreaming a poor clearance from Stephen Robertson allowed Kevin Byers to chip from a long way out to score Brechin’s third and final goal of the match. A disaster for Airdrie and one of the worst goals we have let in this season.

 

The match was not over from an Airdrie point of view though as man of the match Neil McGowan scored his first goal for Airdrie in his four years at the club finishing the game three – three. Does anyone want to take bets that he has also done his knee in after his failed celebrations?