Airdrie (2) v. Accies (2): 12/11/05

AIRDRIE UTD

Hamilton

FIRST HALF Airdrie had the better of the early exchanges with Prunty and McPhee looking threatening. Prunty had a good shot at goal from 20 yards in the early stages. The Airdrieonians took the lead midway through the half when McPhee picked up a loose ball 25 yards out, slipped, recovered, the curled a low ripper of a shot past McEwan. That was 35 years young McPhee’s 4th goal of the season so far! Airdrie continued to dominate the first half and should have done better than go in only one up at the interval, a fine move that involved Prunty and McPhee combine to set up Barkey should have been a goal but the wee midfield man muffed his shot.

MATCH UP Accies went with a 343 formation that contributed to a more open game than you usually get against Billy Reid’s typically defensive and narky sides. The main threat from Hamilton as ever was in the air at set pieces. Airdrie’s usual aerial threat down the left flank from Paul Lovering was easily thwarted on countless occasions by full back John Robertson. Midfield was a real battle. Stephen McKeown was at his best in a flat out battle for control with Alex Neil. Dosser didn’t get much chance to support the attack, but he did a magnificent job of holding Accies’ best player in check. What a midfield those two players could form? Shame, considering they were strike partners at Airdrieonians during out trouble years! Martin Hardie meanwhile was involved in a war of attrition with former mate Marvyn Wilson that threatened to get out of hand on occasion. Major disappointment again was Kevin Barkey stuck out on the right wing. The wee man just didn’t do much creatively down that flank. Just like this time last season when he overstayed his welcome on the right flank.

SECOND HALFDozy Airdrie came out the stalls slowly and were soundly punished in only the second minute. John Robertson beat McGowan all ends up to head an all too easy equaliser. Airdrie’s passing game fell apart. The obvious move was to get McLaren on for Barkey and switch MacDougall to the right flank Taking off the tiring Hardie would also have been an option. But as Airdrie limped on, continually retreating, Accies made a double substitution on the hour mark. Off went slumbering striker Keogh and misfiring Carrigan to be replaced by Gilhaney and McMullen. Within seconds, with Airdrie fast asleep, McMullen’s deep cross was completely missed by the Airdrie defence for wingback Ferguson to ghost in at the far post to ram the ball home. Accies could have been out of sight but for a wonderful save by Robbo from Gilhaney when he was clean through. Quite how the goalie got a glove to that effort is hard to contemplate. Airdrie did eventually get Hardie off, to be replaced directly by the much more mobile Docherty, and later the McLaren/Barkey switch was made. And how! Airdrie woke up again after their half hour nap. The equaliser came in the last minute after some sustained pressure. A headflick on found McLaren, who’d gambled by pushing forward, 12 yards out to turn and fire past McEwan. The love for Airdrie’s maverick talent was obvious but that wasn’t the end of it. Seconds later Prunty almost snatched a winner with a header, then McManus totally miscued a free header for the last second corner.

GOING FORWARD I’m concerned about the McKenna/McManus/McGowan/Lovering defence. McKenna looks less comfortable at full back and the lack of height in the centre is troubling at times. In midfield McKeown isn’t getting a chance to press forward enough and Barkey isn’t a right winger. Hardie can either blow hot or cold, sometimes both and when he’s cold, we’re cold. I prefer the look of our defence with McKenna in the middle, and our midfield with Barkey in the middle protecting the defence and allowing Dosser to gamble forward more often. Could we play a 442 with the two young wingers at the same time? It would be interesting.