Airdrie (2) v. Berwick (1) - 28/3/03
By Gordon Thomson
March 30 2003
Airdrie United hosted a rare Friday night fixture at home to Berwick Rangers on the back of two consecutive victories following the dismal derby day display at Hamilton earlier in the month. We had attempt the new Diamonds first hat-trick without Scott Wilson though.....
Airdrie had to reshuffle the pack a bit due to big Scott Wilson's strained hamstring so with Vella still on international duty, and Mad Dog McGowan paying the price for his moment of madness at Hamilton, Stephen Docherty was pulled back again into central defence with Lee Gardner filling in the midfield. Berwick had former Diamonds Tony Smith and Gordon Connelly in their team. AIRDRIE UTD
It's fair to say that it took Airdrie a while to settle down in this game. The changes didn't affect the defence too much with Sandy, Doc and Armstrong all looking composed, Armstrong in particular was again increasingly influential, but the midfield did take a bit of time to get going. Marvyn and Gardner had to sort out defensive and attacking duties between them and a few tackles were lost, and a few passes went astray in the early stages. Maybe it was the Berwick teams 'dig' in that area that caused the most problems. Their central defence, central midfield and centre forwards all had a solid look about them. Especially their baldy no. 8, Gordon Forrest. He was the main thorn in our side with his perpetual motion, physical tackling, and probing runs. Eventually Gowser got involved a bit, Marvyn got his game going to good effect, and Gardner eventually started to find acres to play in as neither full back seemed willing to follow Gow infield. The first half was a bit of a timid affair with few real chances, give or take Dosser's narrow miss from another long ranger of the outside of his right foot.
The game really sprung to life after the break though. Where Airdrie had looked vulnerable before the break, after it there was a growing confidence especially as we were hitting our favourite way. Vareille opened the scoring from the tightest of angles. Gow made space for a cross on the left that was heading for the near post. Vareille got in front of his man to execute the faintest of touches to deceive the goalie. No one looked more surprised, or delighted, than Jerome. Jerome did of course have another unmissable effort in the second half when he only needed to compose himself but as usual he 'Verailled' it. He wasn't alone. Gowser showed similar hastieness in blazing over an easy chance, and Dosser managed to poke a shot wide. Quite eerily you could hear a thousand cries of "How the 'you know what' did he miss that?" within a split second. Berwick too had a penalty shout, their only chance in the game, when Doc may or may not have clipped Wood's ankle on the edge of the box, but the ref and linesman both looked away. A former Airdrie Boys Club coach I know had a better view than me and said that the Berwick boy fell, so that'll do me.
Airdrie looked better after a couple of substitions. Dunn replaced the mediocre McVey on the left wing, immediately bringing better shape to the team, and Glancy replaced the toiling McKeown, who'd been cynically hacked out of the game early in the second half. Funnily he got the man back and seemed to be whispering "Eekees" to him afterwards. Glancy's movement off Jerome was creating more space and his persistence paid off with a fine finish after a loose ball played him in one on one versus the goalie. Glancy showed his fellow strikers the way by calmly rounding the keeper to fire home easily for a warmly received goal. His keepy uppy a few minutes later put a warm glow on a satisfying evening.
| McGeown | A very easy night out | 6/10 |
| Armstrong | A cut above | 8/10 |
| Stewart | In terrific form | 8/10 |
| Docherty | Much better in defence than his dire midfield displays of late | 8/10 |
| W.Wilson | His best game of the season. Almost looked like he could be a scoring threat in the second half. | 6/10 |
| Gardner | Even though I can't stand him in our team I've got to admit he had a fairly decent game. He made a good few runs to stretch the game and played some good football at times. Quite possibly his best game for us before he ran out of steam. | 7/10 |
| M.Wilson | His best game in ages. After a slow start he imposed himself in a ferocious, sometimes OTT, midfield battle that was definitely not for the feint hearted. | 8/10 |
| McVey | The bookie wasn't really at the races. He looks like he needs to learn his role on that left flank. | 5/10 |
| Gow | Set up the goal, missed a decent chance, probed without much success for most of the game. Wasn't sure about his worth to the team in the first half. | 6/10 |
| Veraille | Did a real power of work as always, holding the ball up, making space, etc. Scored a good goal but could have got another. We'll really see Jerome's worth when he inevitably has to miss a game. | 8/10 |
| McKeown | Like Jerome he was working his socks off but suffered from that shocking tackle early in the second half. | 7/10 |
| s. Dunn | Gave the team a real threat down the left wing after replacing McVey. | n/a |
| s. Glancy | Made a good contribution in the last 20 mins not just his goal. Good movement and ability. | n/a |
| s. Ronald | Replaced the tiring Gardner in the midfield and held his own with admirable workrate. Provided a threat at set pieces with his height. | n/a |