Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Airdrieonians V Stenhousemuir at Excelsior Stadium on 18.3.17

Ladbrokes SPFL League One              Att 568

Airdrieonians 1 [Russell 56] Stenhousemuir

The Warriors have had decent results in recent times against Airdrie and were hoping to continue the run in this trip to Airdrie. The last meeting at the Excelsior saw Stenhousemuir run out winners by five goals but it was unlikely that this was going to happen again.

The home side appeared to suffer a blow before the game when Andy Ryan their top scorer and one of the best marksmen in the league failed a fitness test and therefore had to be content with a seat on the bench. This though could have helped Airdrie’s cause as it meant a touch of the unknown for the Stenhousemuir defence.

Veteran Iain Russell stepped up to a more attacking position and there is always something happening when he plays against Stenhousemuir but this time he was to have the last laugh. 

Stenhousemuir made two changes with Willis Furtado returning after tormenting Airdrie in previous games which Colin McMenamin returned as the team set about a more attacking set up.

Airdrie had been struggling of late and had dropped out of the promotion play offs but they were keen to get revenge for previous results. They started  the game full of promise and in the third minute David Crawford did well to push an Adam VBrown effort out for a corner after the  Airdrie player had made room for the shot. From the corner there was a let off as Russell headed wide of the target. In the 15^th minute in a rare attack Alan Cook picked out Mason Robertson and his first time effort scrapped the wrong side of the post as it went past with a number of Stenhousemuir supporters celebrating a ‘goal’. Two minutes later a Cook free kick was parried by Rohan Ferguson. These were brief highlights though for Stenhousemuir in the first half as Airdrie continued to create the better chances. Adam Brown saw another shot saved by Crawford in the 20^th minute. The home side’s best move though was in the 34^th minute when Scott Stewart picked out Kieran MacDonald who played the ball into Russell but his header from 12 yards out was well pushed out by Crawford.

The half time whistle blew with no scoring and it was hoped that Airdrie had squandered the chance to put distance between the sides and close the game out. The second half was a slow burner but eventually the Diamonds took the lead in the 56^th minute. Russell not surprisingly was the scorer. A Ryan Conroy corner was met by Joe Gorman whose effort was parried by Crawford and Russell was on hand to pounce to  put Airdrie ahaead. He then had a strike just wide. At the other end Robertson saw a shot pushed round the post by Ferguson on the hour. In the 65^th minute Robertson met a Ross Meechan cross and executed a superb overhead kick that flew into the net. It would have been a goal of the season candidate but unfortunately he was flagged offside. A minute later a Jack Leitch volleyed a loose ball off the base of the post from 25 yards, this strike also deserved better reward.  Gorman missed from close range after Stenhousemuir struggled to deal with another corner. There was another let off when Crawford failed to get a Brown shot under control but luckily a defender was able to rescue the situation. David Marsh did have a glancing header from a Duthie free kick in the 75^th minute but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Crawford saved from Jordan McGregor in the 80^th minute but any chances of a comeback were ended in the 84^th minute. David Marsh kicked out at Russell and there could be no complaints when he was dismissed by referee Steven Kirkland. The game petered out after that with Airdrie seeing the game out with ease. 

Airdrieonians – Ferguson, Stewart, MacDonald, McGregor, Mensing [b35], Gorman, Brown, Hutton, Russell [b42], Conroy and Leitch. Subs not used – McIntosh, Cairns, Boatang, Leighton, Kerr, Ryan and Loudon.

Stenhousemuir –  Crawford, Meechan, Summers [b71][Roy 79][b90], , Marsh [so 82], Kerr, Berry, Furtado [Duthie 69], Millar, McMenamin, Robertson and Cook. Subs not used – McCormack,  Grant, Gilhaney, Bowman and Smith.

Referee – Steven Kirkland     Assistants – Joseph Lawson and Chris McNab