Airdrie (2) Vs. Peterhead (2)

Jimmy Boyles Airdrie team once again maintained our 100% record at home but compared to previous matches this one has left me a little bemused!

Mark Ridgers made it back in to the team ahead of Adam Szpilcynski and new to the squad Jamie Stevenson made his stunning debut.

Airdrie Utd: Vs. Peterhead

Ridgers, Vs. Bateman

Bain, Vs. Donald

Lovering, Vs. Smith

Grant, Vs. Strachan

Stallard, Vs MacDonald

Devlin, Vs McVitie

McCord, Vs Gethans (Sharp 85)

Stevenson, Vs Emslie

Gemmill, Vs Anderson

Watt (Craig 55), Vs Wyness

Johnston (Muir 69) Vs Bavidge

Unused Subs:

Szpilcynski, Vs Jarvie

McGregor, Vs Scott Hepburn

Sally. Vs Grant Hepburn

............ Vs McClaughlan

As I said above yesterday Jimmy Boyle left me a little bemused he tried to accommodate three central midfielders instead of sticking with the flare wing play we’ve seen in earlier matches. I’m not a football tactician but I’ve heard it said in the past that managers think it’s a luxury to have two out and out wingers, well personally it looked like we were playing 3 central midfielders and 1 winger and the team just looked very unbalanced.

In saying all this Airdrie began the match well. In the opening 10 minutes both Paul Lovering and Scott Gemmill had headers that could very easily have opened the scoring instead it took a screamer from Jamie Stevenson to give the Diamonds the lead.

A few weeks ago Airdrie beat Stenhousemuir 3-1 during the match McCord scored from a free kick that deceived everyone. Jamie Stevenson scored our opener from about the same position but his shot deceived no one, it flew in to the top corner and has the potential to be one of the goals of the season.

Unfortunately three minutes later while the Airdrie fans were still mostly debating Stevenson’s goal Connor Gethan’s equalised. Peterhead are a tall strong team and they are going to put pressure on any team in this league when they have free kicks or corners and so it was as the ball broke from a corner Gethan spun and slammed the ball in to the back of the net on 22 minutes.

The remainder of the half saw both teams having half chances to break the dead lock, Peterhead’s organisation and strength kept our young teams pace and passion at bay.

The second half saw Peterhead take control of the game and then on 72 minutes our unbalanced team went behind. Jimmy Boyle had already made two changes Watt was replaced by Craig, Boyle obviously opting for experience and then Johnston was replaced by Muir, Muir played on the left hand side where Johnston had been on the right.

Martin Bavidge on 72 minutes struck a volley that gave Peterhead a deserved lead.

As per usual with our team it didn’t mean the match was over, but our equaliser came in an unorthodox manner.

Mark Ridgers turned the game in to a foot race between Chris Criag, Scott Gemmill and the Peterhead defence. With the ball flying over the defence both Craig and Gemmill raced after the ball Craig was quite blatantly dragged off his feet but it was Gemmill who got to the ball and the referee allowed play to continue. If Gemmill had fluffed his lines and missed the shot we would have been screaming that the play hadn’t been stopped instead for the first time this season we have reason to praise a referee.

The match played out and ended 2-2 with no bookings for Airdrie and maybe only one or two for Peterhead.

I’m certain Peterhead will be happier than Airdrie with a point away from home but still our unbeaten home record stands.