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| Andrew Gilchrist |
AIRDRIE 1:0 STRANRAER
26th August 2012
Our Under 19s made it two wins out of two in the league campaign after grinding out a hard fought 1-0 win against Stranraer Under 19s thanks to a goal from Christian McKenna.
For the game our Under 19s manager Stevie Findlay was forced to make one change to the starting eleven from the side that won 7-1 against Stirling Albion Under 19s a week ago as Andrew Gilchrist was handed a start in place of the injured Lee Brown and there was also places on the substitutes bench for Kyle Nicoll and Steven McGinty who had returned from suspension.
Our Young Diamonds took time to settle into the game and had the first chance of it on the 8th minute when Tyler McGuigan hit a curling shot from inside the box but the ball went just over the bar and six minutes later they had another chance when Chris O’Neill hit a powerful shot from about 35 yards out but the ball went well wide. Stranraer responded with there first chance on the 16th minute when they won a corner as from it the ball was crossed to the back post and an unmarked player sent a shot goalwards but Jonny Grier got down low to make the save and two minutes later our Under 19s had another chance when Andrew Gilchrist hit a shot from about 20 yards out but the ball went high and wide.
Both teams continued to have chances and on the 23rd minute Stranraer had the next one when they won a free kick about 30 yards from goal as from it Kyle Rafferty hit a shot but the ball went high and wide and three minutes later Airdrie had a chance when Jordan Wright who had came off the substitutes bench for the first team yesterday hit a shot from inside the box but Stranraer goalkeeper Russell Cadwell managed to parry the ball away and his defence cleared the danger. Then on the 34th minute our Young Diamonds had another chance when Tyler McGuigan drove into the box and cut the ball back to Christian McKenna who was about six yards from goal and he sent a shot goalwards but a Stranraer defender brilliantly managed to block the shot and the ball went over the bar and from the resulting corner no danger was caused.
Our Under 19s were looking the more likelier to score and on the 35th minute had a great chance when Christian McKenna latched onto a Dean Crabbe through ball and with only Russell Cadwell to beat he hit a shot but the ball went just wide however this was only to be a warning to Stranraer as five minutes later Jordan Wright managed to flick the ball from a Grant Drummond long ball onto Christian McKenna and from inside the box he placed the ball by Russell Cadwell and into the net to give our Under 19s a 1-0 lead. There was still time left in the half for both teams to have a chance and on the 44th minute Tyler McGuigan had Airdrie’s when he hit a shot from inside the box but it lacked power and was comfortably saved by Russell Cadwell and during stoppage time Stranraer had the final chance of the half when they hit a shot from the top of the box but the ball went just wide and our Young Diamonds headed into half time winning 1-0.
Stranraer started the half brightest and had the first chances of it when they hit shots from inside the box and from the top of the box on the 51st and 53rd minutes but both efforts were off target and four minutes later our Under 19s had there first chance of the half when Jamie Barclay got onto the end of a cross into the box with a shot but it lacked power and Russell Cadwell made the save. Before the next chance Airdrie made there first two substitutions as Kyle Nicoll and Tam Robertson came on for Keiran Toland and Andrew Gilchrist however it was Stranraer who had the next chance when they won a free kick on the 61st minute as from it the ball was crossed into the box and Kieron Maxwell got onto it with a header goalwards but the ball went well wide.
Both teams continued to search for a goal and on the 68th minute our Young Diamonds had there second chance of the half when Jordan Wright played Tam Robertson in on goal and he hit a shot from inside the box but the ball went over the bar and before the game restarted our Under 19s made there final substitution as Steven McGinty came on for an injured Dean Crabbe. Five minutes later Airdrie had another chance when Jordan Wright got onto the end of a Tyler McGuigan cross into the box with a header but the ball went just over the bar and on the 77th minute Stranraer had another chance when they won a free kick about 25 yards from goal as from it they hit a curling shot which looked to be flying high into the net but Jonny Grier brilliantly got fingertips onto the ball to tip it onto the bar and keep Airdrie in front.
With only nine minutes of the half remaining our Young Diamonds had a fantastic chance to increase the lead when an unmarked Jordan Wright got onto the end of a terrific Tyler McGuigan cross into the box with a header but Russell Cadwell managed to keep the ball out and Stranraer still in the game and two minutes later it was Christian McKenna’s turn to finish the game off for our Under 19s when he was played through on goal and with only Russell Cadwell to beat he hit a shot but the ball went just wide. There was still time for Airdrie to have one more chance and it came for Tam Robertson when he hit a shot from the top of the box but the ball went wide and our Under 19s won 1-0 and returned to the top of the Under 19s league.
Airdrie:
Grier, O’Neill, McSherry, Drummond, Crabbe (McGinty), Toland (Nicoll), Gilchrist (Robertson), Barclay, McKenna, Wright, McGuigan
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