Broadwood Part 3

Bells Challenge Cup 3rd Round

Airdrie V Clydebank New Broomfield

The Diamonds were still struggling for form in this tie and once again they were taken to extra time by lower league opposition. We were now becoming acustomed to getting home late from these mid-week cup ties and the players were certainly earning their corn (Perhaps it was a ploy from Archibald to get their fitness up).

Anyway, The Diamonds booked their place in the semi finals against Stranraer.

The Match Report

Airdrie 1 Clydebank 1

Airdrie win 4-3 on penalties

The Diamonds once again scraped through a cup game against a lower league outfit.

There wasn't much to report about in the first half with the exception of a Martin Prest effort after two minutes. The Argentinean striker who played a blinder of a game let a 25 yard drive go and then watched in agony as it scraped a layer of paint off the post. Steve Archibald's deepening injury crisis was then dealt another cruel blow when David Fernandez was stretchered off after what seemed like a soft challenge on him at the nearside touchline. The match then slipped into a bit of a lull with none of the teams showing any enthusiasm in getting forward.

The second half came to life after 55 mins when Martin Prest powered a header past Henry Smith to give Airdrie a deserved lead. Airdrie then started to look a bit more comfortable and began to relax and play the ball around well, however on the 65 min mark they were too relaxed and allowed Bankie's Jacquin to get a header in and he found the net to level the tie.

The Diamonds then began to look a bit more enthusiastic and Prest found the net again from a McCann corner but the far side linesman judged the ball to have gone out before it found Prest.

Youngster Darren Brady then had his chance with a superb strike from 25 yards, Smith was well beaten by the shot but unfortunately for the youngster his shot cannoned off the post.

With the match all square after extra time penalties were to decide the victors. Sanjuan, McCann, Moreau and Elliot all found the net. The biggest cheer of the night went up when ex Airdrie striker Steve McCormack stepped up to take his spot kick for the Bankies. McCormick watched in horror as Javier Sanchez Broto guessed right and parried his shot away to land Airdrie with a semi final spot away to Stranrear.

Airdrie Side : Broto, Boyce, McCalpine(McCann), Alfonso, Forrest, Sanjuan, Moreau, Calderon(Elliot), Brady, Fernandez(McKeown) and Prest.