Airdrie United 4 Stirling Albion 1

For the third and last time this season the Beanos made the short trip to Airdrie to take on United at the Excelsior stadium. Our previous visits have seen us lose heavily in the League Cup before restoring some pride in an end to end 1-1 league draw in September. Since those two matches the teams have of course also played at the DDS when Jimmy Boyle’s side won 4-1. This last encounter was also the last in charge for Jocky Scott and John Blackley who were sacked the following day. Airdrie tend not to do dull boring games and it was always likely that the fans in attendance this afternoon would see some goals. Team lines for the visitors showed four changes from the midweek comeback up at Station Park. Out went the two Shauns, Dillon and Fagan, along with Darren Smith and Alan Cook. Into the starting XI came the fit again skipper Brian Allison, Daly McSorley, Josh Flood and Lewis Bonar.

On a cold day which saw three matches bite the dust in Division Two there were no such problems at the Excelsior courtesy of Airdrie’s artificial pitch. With a nip in the air the Albion kicked off shooting away from their travelling fans. The Beanos appeared to be in a 3-4-3 formation with Marc McCulloch anchoring a defensive three of himself, skipper Brian Allison and Gary Thom. In midfield Jacobs and Ferry started wide with McLeish and McSorley in the middle. Up front Scott Davidson was central with Flood and Bonar providing the width. Unfortunately this formation seemed to suit Airdrie down to the ground and from the off they were quick to get in behind the midfield and on top of the undermanned defensive line. After slipping two behind in midweek the last thing Greig McDonald’s team needed was to concede an early goal. Sadly that’s exactly what they did do. A ball up the Airdrie right wing was gathered by JOHN BOYLE who spun away from Brian Allison before curling home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.

Terrible start from the visitors and the Beanos really needed to steady the ship. However, it was United who continued to pose all the questions in the early going. A shot from former Alloa midfielder Jamie Stevenson deflected just past the post as Airdrie looked to double their lead. The Beanos first chance of a pop on goal came courtesy of a free kick 30 yards out. Up stepped Marc McCulloch but his set piece attempt lacked the sting to trouble Grant Adam in the Airdrie goal. Josh Flood then set up Lewis Bonar for a strike but in rather typical Bonar fashion the final shot was weak and trundled wide of the target. Another ball up the Airdrie right caused Brian Allison problems and the Beanos captain was penalised for bringing down his man. From the free kick PAUL LOVERING glanced home Willie McLaren’s delivery into the top right hand corner of Callum Reidford’s goal. This goal signalled a change in formations as it was clear Greig’s initial plan was in tatters. As a result we appeared to revert to a 4-3-3 with a back four of Jacobs, Thom, Allison and McCulloch. In midfield Ferry and McSorley played narrow with McLeish in the centre. Up top things stayed the same.

Stirling desperately needed a goal to ignite their hopes of a comeback. A cross dug out from the Stirling left picked out Mark Ferry whose close range stab was blocked behind by Adam. The on-loan Rangers keeper then came out of his box to head a ball up the park. However, the keepers attempted clearance fell nicely for Lewis Bonar who could only blaze a shot over the bar from 20 yards. Great chance wasted. The first yellow card of the day arrived when Brian Allison was cautioned for clattering into Airdrie dangerman Ryan Donnelly. From the resulting free kick Jamie Stevenson’s shot was flapped over his crossbar unconvincingly by Callum Reidford. Another ball into the Stirling box then picked out Ryan Donnelly whose looping header was gathered by Reidford at his right hand post. It was then the turn of the visitors to threaten from a header. Craig McLeish curled over a corner kick only for Gary Thom to head past Adam’s right hand post from close range. From that distance Gary should really have been testing the keeper.

Airdrie were what most of us had expected. A lively looking team who like to attack but can be exposed at the back due to bodies they throw forward. Unfortunately the Beanos were unable to really get at the Airdrie back line as attacks continued to fritter away in the middle of the park. It therefore remained the hosts looking the more likely to score next. It really should have been three when a great run from Jamie Bain ended with a cut back to Sean Lynch who duffed the ball wide of goal from 10 yards out when under no pressure. Big let off for Stirling that one. Marc McCulloch became the second member of the Albion’s overworked defence to see yellow as Airdrie kept up the pressure. Jamie Stevenson took a quick free kick to Willie McLaren and the winger’s dipping shot had to be tipped away for a corner by Reidford. Nathan Blockley became the first home man to be carded but it failed to take the shine off of what had been an excellent display so far by the hosts.

Stirling needed the break and soon it was upon us. So as the teams trooped off for the half-time pork scratchings the Beanos management had a lot of work to do to get their charges believing it wasn’t already game over.

Half-TimeAirdrie United 2 Stirling Albion 0

Stirling started the second half by introducing two substitutes. Off went Craig McLeish and Lewis Bonar as Darren Smith and new signing Graham Weir entered the fray. Not much happened in the early stages of the second period. First real incident of any note came courtesy of a Jamie Bain strike which sailed over the bar from 25 yards. The Beanos first chance of the second half was probably their best attacking moment of the game to date. Darren Smith broke forward, fed Mark Ferry who in turn played in Josh Flood who curled a shot straight into the gloves of Grant Adam. Chance gone but a more promising passage of play. Up the other end Airdrie went close to a third when a corner was headed over by David Lilley from the edge of the six yard box. With the match not really going anywhere both sides decided to make a change. For Stirling Alan Cook replaced Scott Davidson while Graeme Owens took the place of Jamie Stevenson for United.

The game need an Albion goal to give it the kiss of life. Sadly it got an Airdrie one to all but seal the Beanos fate. A ball down the Albion left was gathered by Ryan Donnelly who centred for WILLIE McLAREN to sidefoot home from point blank range. Simple goal but so many times that’s what goals are, simple play well executed. Stirling looked to hit back quickly but Darren Smith’s header following a Daly McSorley delivery was easily held by Grant Adam. Airdrie then made their second switch of the afternoon as Scott Sally replaced Ryan Donnelly. The game was now getting stretched as with the match seemingly won the hosts were pushing forward for more goals. This left gaps at the back and the Beanos were able to get in a few quick counter attacks. On one such foray Mark Ferry had three men in support as Stirling had a four on three break but Ferry delayed his pass, was tackled and the moment was lost. Ferry did get on the end of an Alan Cook centre moments later but his weak hook shot was comfortably saved by Adam in the home goal.

It was all about salvaging some pride now for the visitors after what in the main had been a surprisingly disjointed display. Get to full time with no more goals conceded and perhaps sneak a consolation was all the travelling fans had to hope for. Big Derek Holmes came on for John Boyle as the home side used their last substitution. A corner from Josh Flood was played to the edge of the box from where Alan Cook drilled the ball over the bar. The Stirling defence wasn’t so lucky a minute or so later. An Airdrie corner wasn’t cleared and as the ball ricocheted around in the box it eventually fell to SCOTT SALLY who poked home United’s fourth of the afternoon. This goal meant we’d conceded 14 in four  matches to the North Lanarkshire side this season. Not a stat Albion fans will probably care to dwell on. With spectators now heading for the car parks the only question remaining was whether Airdrie would get a rare clean sheet. They don’t get many and in the dying seconds they were denied one today. A ball into the Airdrie box fell between Graham Weir and MARK FERRY but it was the latter who swung a leg out and steered a consolation strike past Grant Adam.

The match entered injury time and the Albion management team must have wished the game had ended there and then. Frustratingly though there was still time for one last kick in the guts for the Beanos. A late tackle by Brian Allison on Jamie Bain had the referee reaching for the yellow card. This was Brian’s second of the day and so he had to go. While leaving the pitch the Stirling skipper made a rather stupid gesture to the Airdrie fans. Yes, he was undoubtedly provoked but as captain he has to rise above that sort of thing. Perhaps a spell without the arm band will get the message across. Seconds later the referee was blowing for time. Not a great day but no point in going overboard. We don’t have a great squad and as such we’ll have good days and bad days. Today was just a particularly bad one. Hopefully manager Greig McDonald will have learned more about his squad in this one defeat than he may have done from the previous matches in charge. Next up is a midweek trip to Arbroath before we return to the DDS to face Forfar on the following Saturday.