By Stomp Admin
October 3 2010

It’s kind of surprising to say that Airdrie have now been unbeaten for five games and our only defeat of the league season so far came from Livingston away from home. Yesterdays match against Dumbarton leaves us with only Alloa to play and we’ve seen everyone and this team has shown they need fear no one.

Jimmy Boyle was without Euan Grant who was suspended after his sending off last week, it was as soft sending off in my opinion but it stood so Airdrie lined up 4-5-1 formation with Stallard filling in for. I say 4-5-1 but with Gemmel and Johnston playing high up the park on the wings and McCord supporting the attack through the middle of the park it quite easily becomes a 4-2-1-3.

Dumbarton Vs. Airdrie

Grindley, Vs. Ridgers
Chisholm, Vs. Bain
Stirling Smith (Chaplain 28), Vs. Lovering
McManus, Vs. Stallard
Gordon, Vs. Gibson
McNiff, Vs. Devlin
Geggan (Brannan 62), Vs. McCord
McStay, Vs. Stevenson
Maxwell, Vs. Gemmell (Sally 88)
Carcary (Gilhaney 62), Vs. Watt
Cook. Vs. Johnston (Wallace 56).
Subs Not Used:
Campbell, Vs. Donnelly,
White. Vs. Szpilcynski

Sitting here writing this report it occurred to me to simply copy last week’s report change a couple of names add a goal and hey presto but there were some subtle differences in both matches that tore apart that idea.

Airdrie began the game sharply, Philip Johnston and Gemmel attacking down the wings Tony Watt holding up the ball in attack and awaiting the support from the midfield, which sometimes got there and sometimes didn’t.

For all of our control in the opening 20 minutes, we had only one real chance to open the scoring Tony Watt got the ball on the bi-line his ball in to the box only needed someone to get on the end of it but there was no one there. That was on 11 minutes and that set the tone for the remainder of the half for Airdrie.

Jim Chapman spotted our early dominance and on 28 minutes changed his team and the arrival of Chaplain in to the Dumbarton midfield basically turned the game in to a stalemate for long periods. Then towards the end of the half the flow of the match once again changed and Dumbarton came closest to scoring.  

To be honest if it’s as if our lads are waiting for something to happen maybe for the opposition to get ahead, maybe for the tough tackle that gets them riled maybe for the fans to start supporting them. Maybe they’re simply waiting for Jimmy to hold their hands or bollock them, but whatever it is that change happened in the second half.

Although for the opening minutes it wasn’t evident!

Dumbarton came out quickly and if they had scored early on maybe there would have been a different ending to the story.

With Dumbarton pushing Scott Gemmel chased down a no win ball and got a leg to it, the deflected ball ran down the far wing and Gemmel gave chase. Beating the Dumbarton defender to the ball he turned inside and picked McCord out with a simple pass.

Ryan McCord’s first touch took him into the penalty box; his second (on his left foot) saw the ball in the back of the Dumbarton net. 1-0 Airdrie on 52 minutes. Robert Dalzell picture gallery

I hoped after that there would be an onslaught and ten minutes later Ryan Wallace found himself in the space Johnston just doesn’t seem to get. Jamie Stevenson played the ball through the Dumbarton defence to Tony Watt’s feet: Tony held off two Dumbarton defenders but his flick and shot spun away from goal after a deflection, fortunately it arrived at the feet of Ryan Wallace who from a similar position as last week fired in to the back of the net. 2-0 Airdrie on 62 minutes.

As always with Airdrie there is a sting in the tail, Dumbarton got a free kick well outside the Airdrie penalty box and when it looked like Ridgers had it covered I looked away and didn’t see what happened next. According to some the keeper spilled the ball much like the one against Forfar according to others one of our defenders got in his way, whatever the case Paul Maxwell was on hand to stick the ball in the back of the net. 1-2 and its game on....Well that’s not strictly true it became a battle in the midfield once again until that is Jamie Bain fired a ball over the Dumbarton defence leaving Scott Gemmel to run on to it take it round the keeper and almost walk it in to the net.

Sounds simple doesn’t it? 1-3 the Diamonds on 74 minutes.

For the remaining 16 minutes we comfortably defended our lead, Dumbarton had a lot of possession but no real threat and Airdrie went home with all three points.

Dumbarton (1) Vs. Airdrie (3)

Discussion started by The Stomp (IP Logged), 03/10/2010 21:22

The Stomp
03/10/2010 21:22

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Diamond F
05/10/2010 02:15

Re Wallace gettin the space that PJ doesnt, I think it is down to a couple of factors - teams now know about PJs pace and double up on him, Wallace comes on as a sub in 2nd half when defenders are tiring and the opposition have changed their formation and Wallace is not a winger so he does not hog touchline. It is proving to be a particularly good substitutionto be able to make.

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Bulldog Eleven
05/10/2010 12:10

I was also thinking that maybe Johnston and Gemmell should change wings, that way Johnston may turn towards goal and give himself a couple of shooting opportunities. Like Watt i think all his play is missing is a goal or two.

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Mario
06/10/2010 00:01

Watt might have a better time at being an impact sub, sort of like Ryan Wallace is becoming now.

It would also take some of the pressure off Watt, and I'm certain that once he gets a goal he'll go from strength to strength.

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Jay Silverheels
06/10/2010 12:18

"Tony Watt got the ball on the bi-line"

Watt's crosses swing both ways do they?

Regardless, keep up the good work, much appreciated!

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