Match Report - By Grant Hood

AIRDRIEONIANS 3-1 BRECHIN CITY

City failed to gather any points from the wide open spaces of the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, a venue which now sees a results sequence of 1 victory in the last 10 visits for the Glebe Park side.

Two goals midway through the first half, saw the home side grab the initiative. Despite being the beneficiary of a Diamonds own-goal just before the half-time whistle, City were unable to capitalise on this lifeline and a third home goal allowed the Lanarkshire side to see the game out comfortably. This result saw the homesters overtake Darren Dods' team and move into third place in League One with only 4 matches remaining.

Manager Darren Dods made 2 changes to last week’s starting line up with the re-instatements of both Willie Dyer and Ally Love resulting in returns to the bench for Aron Lynas and Ross Caldwell.

The home side took the lead 20 minutes in. James Dale did well to win possession on the left touchline, only for his infield pass seeing Kyle Hutton instantly dispossess Ally Love. Former City striker IAIN RUSSELL was the beneficiary of his incisive early pass allowing him to calmly slot the ball past Graeme Smith.

This lead was doubled only 3 minutes later in a devastating breakaway. With the homesters’ defence successfully blocking attempts at goal from both Gary Fusco and Ally Love following a corner fumbled by home keeper Rohan Ferguson, the Diamonds swept upfield at pace. The ever-dangerous former City loanee Andy Ryan took possession of the clearance in his own half and played a delicious reverse pass to Ryan Conroy, who strode forward before slotting an equally exquisite pass to onrushing KIERAN MacDONALD. The defender slotted the ball under the onrushing ‘Buzz’ in the City goal to notch his first goal for his Lanarkshire employer.

The clock had already passed the 45 minute mark when Andy Jackson latched on to a long, bouncing through ball and, fending off the attentions of two home defenders, sought to head the ball over the home custodian. Although the keeper got a hand to ‘Jacko’s’ effort and deflected it over the bar, he would be beaten seconds later as Ally Love’s resultant corner was headed into his own net by Diamonds’ midfielder JACK LEITCH.

Half-Time: Airdrieonians 2-1 Brechin City

Arguably the game’s turning point arrived 9 minutes after the restart. A long, bouncing ball again troubled the home rearguard allowing Andy Jackson an opportunity to bear down on goal. Having gathered possession around 18 yards out, by the time he had progressed to the 6 yard line he looked odds-on to equalise. Sadly for everyone of a City persuasion his shot was blocked on the line by the home keeper and the chance was gone. This was followed soon after by a Gary Fusco effort from 10 yards which was blazed over the crossbar.

A moment later, the home side grabbed what proved to be the clincher. James Dale found himself outnumbered around the half-way line, surrendering possession to Scott Stewart who drove forward at pace. His composed pass to IAIN RUSSELL allowed the striker to pick his spot past ‘Buzz’ and restore The Diamonds’ 2-goal cushion.

The skill and work-rate of City’s former Diamond Liam Watt was nearly rewarded in 66 minutes when he cut in from the left only to see his curling far post effort force a cracking full-length save from Ferguson.

Impressive midfield play by Ryan Conroy then took 3 City midfielders out of the game, allowing Andy Ryan a sight of goal – but the striker will have been disappointed not to force ‘Buzz’ into a save as he skewed his shot well wide.

With 15 minutes to go Dougie Hill was cautioned for what the referee deemed as a foul a couple of yards outside of the City penalty area. Although the resultant free-kick was deflected wide off the wall, of potentially greater significance is the suspension now looming for the stand-out City defender. He’ll miss the upcoming home games against both Stranraer and Albion Rovers in the run-in.

City kept plugging away, with substitute Ross Caldwell showing some real strength and tenacity to hold off challenges from 3 home players before slotting a pass through to fellow-sub Alan Trouten, whose effort failed to trouble the keeper.

The final chance of the match was a glaring opportunity for Iain Russell to secure his hat-trick. A midfield interception by Adam Brown resulted in his first-time pass picking out ‘Beanie’ who had a clear run-in on goal. His dinked 18-yard effort beat Graeme Smith but lacked the pace to trouble the back-tracking Dougie Hill who was comfortably able to walk the ball to safety.

Despite the defeat, it decides nothing and a glance at the League One table now tells us there are only 4 points separating the teams from 3rd to 7th. Darren Dods and his men visit second placed Alloa Athletic next weekend, a venue which has been kinder to City in recent times than Airdrie’s Excelsior - having been unbeaten there in the last eight visits. City fans will be hoping that sequence continues as the run-in will doubtless have some twists and turns yet to come.

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