Stranraer 1 v. Airdrie 0 - 6/8/05

By The Grumpy Old Git
August 7 2005

It was a lovely day for the football, there was an air of anticipation tinged only slighty with reservations about our wafer thin, youthful new squad. Newly promoted Stranraer would be our first opponents for the new look Diamonds. Would the new guys hit the ground running?

It didn’t help that Stephen McKeown’s suspension coincided with the continuing absence of his likely midfield partner Martin Hardie, and his wee mate Kevin Barkey through injury. New boys Brian McPhee, Colin Marshall and Fraser Coyle started the game while Gary Twigg and sub goalie Steven Robertson were on the bench. Stranraer had midfielder Gary McPhee missing through a broken leg.

AIRDRIE UTD

Hollis
Coyle, McManus, McGowan, Lovering
Marshall, Docherty, Dunn, McLaren
McPhee and Roberts

Stranraer

Coyle
Swift, Higgins, Henderson, Keddie
Hamilton, Jenkins, Ross

Walker
Hinds, Moore

Check out Bob Dalzell's photo gallery of the game. Remember his photos are copyright controlled.

Stranraer had the bulk of early play as the more lightweight Airdrie pack took a while to settle against their robust up and at ‘em style. The first real chance of the game though came Airdrie’s way after Docherty was fouled 20 yards out. David Dunn clipped a neat free kick low to the goalie’s right but he got down in plenty time to tip the effort wide. Airdrie never really got going at all and it was no surprise when Stranraer finally broke the deadlock. Airdrie failed to clear a returned cross from the left and Hamilton stuck the effort past Lee Hollis in goal.

Airdrie tried to alter their style after the break with Marshall and Coyle moving into central midfield beside Docherty, with Dunn playing wide on the right!!! Dunn was soon replaced by the energetic youngster MacDougall, but before long McPhee was sent off for leading with an elbow. If he’d deliberately elbowed his opponent it would have been justifiable but it didn’t look too dangerous. Only moments later Stranraer’s terrible centre-forward Moore, who led with his elbow all day – when he wasn’t theatrically throwing himself around aimlessly – got his marching orders for a second booking. That decision too looked a bit harsh but that score was evened. Unfortunately for the clueless Airdrieonians the real score couldn’t be equalled. Without McPhee there was absolutely nothing going to happen that would threaten th Stranraer goal.

It may only be the first game of the season, but if that’s the best we can do, it’ll be a very heartbreaking season. Defensively we look weak. Relying on the experience of McManus, we look lightweight and clumsy. McGowan and Lovering don’t look comfy together and we lack something on that left side of the defence. In midfield Dunn tried without ever really clicking. Docherty tried to carry the fight but he’s only a fraction of the player that McKeown, Hardie or the badly missed Marv were. On a few occasions today Doc tried to beat severel men. Every time he was stopped he was either looking to be fouled (he got a booking for being too obvious) and I get the feeling it’s because he doesn’t manage to find a pass in time. He’ll be injured soon at this rate. Pity because he is a trier. I prefer him in a wide position. McLaren only skits around the edges of the game on the left wing. Up front McPhee tried to carry the fight but can he do that single handedly in every game. Roberts had some good touches today but he has the killer instinct of a dairy cow. If ever a player needed to develop the eye of the tiger it’s him. All the best strikers would kill their granny to bag a goal.

I’m not going to join the vocal ones who claimed that this was the worst ever Airdrie team in living memory, though we’ve probably got Gary MacKay to thank for running it close. The next few games will be vital. Dosser’s return in midfield will be absolutely crucial as we were second best there today – no doubt. I will reiterate my view from last season that I think we’d be better with a 343 formation. Put McKenna in there beside McManus and McGowan, pushing Coyle and Lovering up on the flanks. Dosser and AN Other in central midfield, with McLaren tucked in behind/beside McPhee and Twigg up front. I feel we’re shapeless right now, the second half was pretty awful today. I feel McLaren needs to play through the middle. He isn’t much of a winger.

Hollis Didn’t have an awful lot to do. No chance with the goal, and very lucky the second one was disallowed. He didn’t come off his line at all. 5/10
Coyle Looks a tidy wee player either at full back or in midfield but he is prone to the odd mistake. Could he have cleared the ball at the goal? 5/10
McManus Probably our best and that’s not saying much. At least looked like a leader for us. 6/10
McGowan I’m not sure what to make of him today. Defended well at times, looked clumsy at others 5/10
Lovering Looks out of condition 5/10
Marshall Quiet first half, got more involved in the second. Good on the ball. 5/10
Docherty Tried to be a good captain but bogged down. I prefer him playing wide. 5/10
Dunn Always looking for the ball but struggled to make headway 5/10
McLaren Looked likely to cause trouble early on but starved of supply. 5/10
McPhee Worked hard but got nowhere. Looked most likely to do something but not getting much supply in the right areas. I thought he was harshly sent off by an inexperience ref. 5/10
Roberts Always looking to link play with a quick one touch pass. He had a good chance in the first half but sclaffed his shot. Hooked in the second half after disappearing. 5/10
s. MacDougall for Dunn early in second half Looks a good player. n/a
s. Twigg for Roberts with twenty minutes left Didn’t feature heavily n/a

Bookmark or share this story with: