Airdrie 3 v Stranraer 3 - 1/3/03

Airdrie certainly had a more solid look to the team in this game with Dunn moving into midfield to support Wilson and the legend Kenny Black. It was Black's first senior game for at least a couple of seasons and it showed. Despite looking a bit less dynamic than in his last Airdrie appearances though he brought some calm to our often over exposed midfield and Marvin in particular looked to be freed up to be a bit more creative and supportive than in recent months. Dunn though looked a bit lost in his central role and couldn't make use of his excellent crossing ability from the left. Defensively Armstrong did his best to drive the team on from the back whilst Doc persevered to cover for his partner Vella's lack of something. Vella continued his woeful form, did you hear the things McGeown's been shouting at him, coming out second to just about every ball. Maybe Simon Vella is Maltese for silver medal? Up front McKeown was working hard with little midfield support whilst Jerome was doing all his work tracking back to support the supposed wing backs who seemed rooted firmly in their own half of the field.

Dosser made the first chance of the game with a thundering shot that came off the post after only a couple of minutes but in general the first period was, to say the least, turgid. Half an hour passed before the next decent chance as Dunn unwittingly set up McKeown. To credit Dunn with an assist here is a bit generous as his "pass" nearly knocked Dosser over but Stevie being Stevie he steadied himself, shrugged off a couple of challenges, then with the outside of his right foot, stroked a delicious shot into the top corner from the edge of the box for a majestick opener. Pity there were no cameras there to save the moment for him. Airdrie looked to be hanging on till half time when big Vella made a complete hash of a simple looking clearance to concede a corner. At this point I should mention for anyone not at the game that Stranraer's defence and midfield would make England's rugby forwards look like a line of garden gnomes. Needless to say the resultant corner was thundered off the bar with a Stranraer's Fraser Wright forcing the rebound home.

The second half was barely underway when we conceded yet another soft goal. Another cross ball was delivered into the box and, as our permanently static defence remained, er, static, Ian Harty stabbed home. Communication, commitment, organisation? None evident. Airdrie eventually dug deep, Gow came on for McVey, with Dunn going wide left, and Ronald went into midfield, and did surprisingly well, for the tiring Kenny Black. With about twenty minutes left it was that man, Stevie 'Dosser' McKeown, who took the game by the scruff yet again. The fearless forward picked up a pass wide on the right and proceeded to batter through several challenges that he had no right to win before squaring the ball to Veraille. Even Jerome couldn't miss that one. In fairness to the big Frenchman he had to think twice about hogging the glory and instead saluted his young team mate instead. Only a couple of minutes later Jerome had a superb chance as two defenders Vellaed a long ball out of our defence. Veraille found himself clean through on the keeper but screwed up the glorius chance. Not to matter though, a couple of minutes later he scored another glorious chance picking up a ball on the left side of the box, back to goal, he controlled the ball with his first touch, turned and fired an unstoppable volley high past the blues keeper.

One may ask why he can't do that more often but a moment to savour none the less. Literally, a moment. As that's how long it took for our defence to undo all the good work yet again. Stranraer midfielder Kerr left to head home unchallenged to rob us of two points.

It's fair to say that we scored three cracking goals and surrendered three stupid goals rather pitifully.