Bells Challenge Cup 1st Round

Bells Challenge Cup 1st Round

Airdrie V Queen of the South New Broomfield

It all began at New Broomfield with the diamonds taking on Queen of the South.

We were still a team that lacked fitness and match practise but we managed to stick to the task and see the tie through even although Queens took us to the wire.

The Match Report

Airdrieonians 2 Queen of the South 1 aet

For the second week running, Airdrie took more than the regulation 90 mins to see of lower league opposition.

The Diamonds were well in control of the match playing the ball around the park well but lacked sharpness in the last third.

The first half was dominated by Airdrie with Fabrice Moreau hitting the woodwork and the midfielder then watched the Queen's keeper make a fabulous save from a powerful header shortly after.

Queen's however weren't out to make up the numbers and pressed the home side into making a few mistakes at the back but luckily for Airdrie they weren't punished. Queens were out to give the diamonds a hard time and left two of the boys booked onto the physio's table in the morning. First down was Salva Capin who had to limp off with what looked like a damaged ankle. Second to go was Antonio Calderon who was caught late by a Queen's defender and also limped off with a knee injury, OH! and Miguel Alfonso was also left with a gash in his head.

Queen of the South took the lead two minutes into the second half when Pat Atkinson waltzed through the home defence and finished his run off by bending the ball past Broto.

Airdrie leveled 19 minutes later when Calderon let fly with an unstoppable left foot shot that sailed by the keeper and into the top left hand corner of the net.

Diamond new boy Paul Clark scored another classic two minutes into injury time when he let fly from 18 yards, this time to the keepers right hand side and booked Airdrie's place in the second round draw.