By Neil Brown
October 30 2006

AS AIRDRIE 3 CLYDEBANK THISTLE 1

Airdrie came from a 1-0 deficit at half time to earn a well deserved victory against the league leaders at central park, goals from Cooper (2) and Gray cancelled out a 30th minute strike by the leaders.

With Airdrie leaking goals the manager opted to go with a 4-4-2 formation to try and tighten up the back so Burton came into center half, Morrison returned to left mid and Capaldi started up front with Thomson. Gray dropped to the bench, Clark injured and Kenny Pardoe away for the weekend the players not starting from last week.

Airdrie started much better this week and took the game to Thistle straight away. However Thistle had the first chance of the match but the free kick was wasted. Airdrie then created a great chance when Thomson put a lovely through ball to Capaldi who had sprung the offside trap, Capaldi rounded the keeper but from a tight angle opted to knock the ball across the goal only for Edgar to miskick from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy Undaunted Airdrie pushed on and with the 4 at the back looking strong it gave the midfield the platform to dominate the middle and further chances were missed by Capaldi, who fired just wide after a fine turn then Morrison who hammered the ball over from 12 yards on his weaker foot. Thistle were trying to play football and the number 9 up front was looking lively but Airdrie restricted them to a couple of shots from distance, which were easily dealt with by Rowan. But as luck would have it Thistle took the lead against the run of play when a short back pass to Rowan saw the keeper fluff his clearance to the edge of the box. The Thistle player took the chance and fired a low shot toward the near corner, Rowan failed to get a strong hand to it and the ball slipped into the net. Airdrie responded and the keeper had to look lively to come off his line when Thomson just failed to get on the end of a through ball. However the last 10 minutes of the half saw Thistle dominate and Rowan touched a fine drive over the bar with Airdrie's defence looking shaky for the first time in the match.1-0 to the league leaders at half time.

No changes for Airdrie at half time and once again they took the game to the visitors and early chances were not taken. Thistle was trying to get a foothold in the second half and just as they looked like doing so Airdrie equalized after 60 minutes. From a cleared corner a fine ball to Capaldi found the striker in good space inside the box, As he turned his marker with a neat turn he fluffed the ball across goal but fortunately for Airdrie the center half missed it and Cooper, who had stayed up for the corner, turned and struck a good shot under the keeper for 1-1. This gave Airdrie a big lift and they went on and controlled most of the last 30 minutes. Again chances fell and were missed, Morrison hammered over again then Thomson was put through and his shot shaved the back post with the keeper beaten, Neil Pardoe then fired his shot past the same post. Just as Airdrie looked like squandering more chances they took the lead from a well-worked free kick. As Stewart lined up over the ball the Thistle defenders were caught out when Cooper made a late run into the box, Stewart put the ball right on the money and the big man bulleted a header from 15 yards past the despairing keeper. Airdrie made their first change with Hendrie on for Neil Pardoe, then the second change saw Gray on for Thomson with about 22 to play. Thistle tried gainfully to get back into the game and started to push more men forward and by doing so were leaving their defender's one on one at the back. With 15 minutes to go Airdrie made the points safe when, after breaking down a Thistle attack, a through ball found Gray one on one with the keeper, Gray calmly rounded the keeper kept his composure and hammered the ball into the far corner for 3-1. Airdrie had to then keep it tight at the back and saw out the remaining minutes with Rowan having little to deal with. Airdrie nearly made it 4-1 when Gray curled an effort just wide. Arbuckle came on for Ross Graham for the last couple and the game finished with a 3-1 scoreline to the home team. What a difference a week makes. Today, despite some fine individual performances, was about a combined team effort with everyone starting and the guys on the sidelines all contributing to the result. The passing, movement was there against the team flying at the top of the league. But a big difference this week was the defence being a lot stronger and tighter with a back 4 giving few opportunities to Thistle. However the chances were still being made and it would have been an injustice if Airdrie had got nothing out the game. As it was Airdrie thoroughly deserved three points and the Thistle manager admitted himself after the game. A mention to Thistle and their approach to the game a team like ourselves who try and pass the ball about and even when they went behind continued to try and play football. Until today they had won 6 out of 7 matches and were on top on merit and, despite their defeat today, they will continue to be up near the top if they keep playing their own game. They just caught us on a good day, especially after our last 2 games when we didn’t perform the way we expect of ourselves

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