Ardrie (2) V. Stennie (0)
By Gordon Thomson
December 2 2004
14th dec 2002 Former Airdrie player and Asst. Manager John McVeigh was defeated at New Broomfield by 10 man Airdrie United who had to play 3/4 of the game with only 10 men after Kenny Brannigan was sent off for violent conduct, an apparent reaction to the visitors dreadful tactics.
Sandy Stewart knew what kind of game he'd get from John McVeigh's Stenhousemuir and lined Airdrie up in a style that could combat their physical approach with Neil McGowan back and defensive utility man Paul Armstrong in central midfield to back up Marvyn Wilson in captain Stephen Docherty's absence. McVeigh had a host of former Diamonds in his side with Stuart Easton, Gerry McKenna, Robert Coulter and Mark Booth. Local boy Jamie McKenzie was on their bench. AIRDRIE
Stenhousemuir
This game wasn't for the football purist as McVeigh's bunch of niggly wee upstarts gave as good as they got and a little extra in the opening spell. Notably Stuart Easton really did a bit of winding up with fiery tackling often verging on late and vicious. After an non event first 25 minutes the game sprung shockingly to life as Easton lunged ferociously at Maryvn Wilson. Easton caught him high, late and sore with his tackle and sparked a mass brawl that could have seen at least a dozen players sent off but it was Kenny Brannigan who was the only victim of the ref's as he got a straight red for violent conduct. Fists were flying all over as the Diamonds players reacted furiously to the tackle, the reaction of the Stenny players and the overall attitude of our guests.
If nothing else the brawl did provide a spark of entertainment after such a dull opening. As often happens with a team down to ten men it was the aggrieved Diamonds who took the upper hand. With McGowan dropping back to defence, where he's clearly happier, McKeown dropping back to partner Marv in midfield, and McGuire tucking in beside Jerome up front, Airdrie started to take control of the game and play some decent football. Vareille in particular played out of his skin throwing off the physical challenge of Coulter whilst the till then inneffective Marvyn Wilson took control of the midfield with style. Vella and Stewart completely dominated the Airdrie back line. Vareille had a good effort before half time but his shot was just too straight at the keeper and once again David McGuire was denied a clear penalty when he was scythed down at the edge of the box. Very obviously the referees have marked his card.
No scoring till half time and with ten men you begin to worry that the legs will hold out and an early spell of pressure from the Warriors at the beginning of the second half and you could be excused for thinking "here we go again". But we didn't capitulate. Has Sandy managed to instill the same spirit Doddy generated ten years ago? Our goal held out, Alan Gow replaced McGuire, and the comeback was on.
Ten minutes after replacing McGuire, Gowser managed to score an Archie Gemmill like goal to break the deadlock. Jerome lost possession on the right but worked hard to close down the three visiting defenders who tried to play a little triangle around him but Jerome pressured them sufficiently to force the error. The ball broke to Gowser who dragged the ball round Coulter then McKenna before firing past the keeper for a goal of the season contender. The Diamonds were driving 'onwards and upwards' and soon after Jerome's persistence paid off again as the increasingly dopey looking Coulter again capitulated possession on the edge of the box and Jerome steadied himself to rocket the ball past the keeper for no. 2 before sliding up to the Diamonds fans to accept our acclaim.
Airdrie managed to hold out for the last twenty minutes to claim the points and send McVeigh homeward to think again.
| McGeown | Didn't have a save to make till the second half but was in inspired form to keep a clean sheet under late pressure. | 8/10 |
| Brannigan | Showed all his experience by sacrificing himself in such a manner as to draw the very best out of his ten other team mates and inspire them to such a satisfying victory. His very first card as an Airdrie player. | 10/10 |
| Stewart | His best game in months | 8/10 |
| Vella | Absolutely solid throughout | 8/10 |
| W.Wilson | A competent display from a guy I don't rate. His workrate was impressive and he slung in a few decent crosses. | 7/10 |
| Armstrong | Wasn't having all that good a game in midfield as he toiled to find his range passing wise but after the sending off he was immense as a midfielder, cum defender, cum attacker. | 8/10 |
| M.Wilson | Like Armstrong it took till the sending off to get him going but once he did he looked different calibre to his two niggly opponents. | 8/10 |
| McGowan | When he was a wing back he was playing far too deep but when he tucked in he was back to being a tackling machine. | 8/10 |
| Vareille | Back to his majestic best with a display of commitment, skill and endeavour. Should be playing at a different level. | 9/10 |
| McKeown | Wasn't fully fit and struggled up front early on. Had a better game in midfield till he went off with quarter of an hour left. | 7/10 |
| McGuire | Looks to have gone off the boil again. He isn't running at people like he was. Personally I like him playing behind the strikers now and again but maybe it's time to bench him for a couple of games to fire him up again. Despite his uninspired display he still suffered a few hefty knocks and had a decent penalty claim turned down. | 6/10 |
| s. Gardner | Came on for Dosser and held his own | 4/10 |
| s. Gow | Came on for McGuire after 50mins and turned the game with his delightful goal. If he could provide the same workrate and commitment as Vareille and Dosser he'd be ten times the player. | 8/10 |
| s. Ronald | Replaced Vareille to let the Frenchman take his own ovation. Only had a couple of minutes so no chance to shine. | 2/10 |