In this second of a four part series, Douglas Barrie looks at the winter months of the 2011-12 season, a time when Airdrie fans were treated to goals galore.

​

October started as the next three months was to go on.  Stenhousemuir clashes in the second half of the season would become crucial, but none more entertaining than this first encounter.  Despite being 3-0 ahead in the game, Airdrie managed to concede two goals before regaining the advantage to win 5-2.

​

There was a lull in the performances over the next few games, with 1-1 draws away to Brechin and Dumbarton before a 1-3 home defeat against East Fife.  Then came the horror show.

​

No fan could have predicted how Bonfire Night at Cliftonhill would go, but the second Monklands Derby of the season wasn’t going to go Airdrie’s way.  Some poor goalkeeping and unlucky defending saw Albion Rovers take an early lead and run with it.  For them to keep running until the match ended 7-2 was unthinkable, but it will be a long time again before either side sees such a victory over the other.  The Coatbridge side had got their revenge on the Diamonds for the 4-0 drubbing in September, as well as giving their survival hopes a boost and putting a dent in Airdrie’s shot at promotion.

​

The nine-goal thriller – Airdrie’s worst ever defeat – was followed up by an enthralling 4-4 draw with Forfar, with John Boyle snatching the clinical eighth goal to steal a point for the home side.

​

Not to be outdone on the record smashing month, Gala Fairydean came to Airdrie as part of the Scottish Cup – and the junior side probably wish they hadn’t given that the Diamonds were victorious 11-0.  Even their best ever triumph wasn’t enough; the week later Airdrie drew 3-3 with Arbroath meaning that, in just four games, Airdrie fans had been treated to a whopping 34 goals.  The likes of which will probably never be seen again.

​

November was also a busy month on the business side of things.  Willie McLaren returned to the club in a loan spell from Hamilton, and a new sponsorship agreement was signed with Advanced Construction Scotland.

​

Despite the bad weather pre-Christmas, Airdrie managed to play all of their fixtures.  The Diamonds survived a cold, wet and windy afternoon in Stirling to win 4-1 before travelling to Stenhousemuir and drawing 1-1.  The unbeaten run couldn’t continue as they lost 3-2 to Brechin at home, but of course there was a greater unbeaten run to come.

​

On Boxing Day Airdrie travelled to Forfar and found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.  The travelling fans had a late Christmas wish granted as goals from Lynch and McLaren drew them level before Scott Morton hit a last minute winner to wrap up the three points (no pun intended).

​

That comeback was a sign of things to come over the second half of the season...

​

Next time – Douglas Barrie looks at the turn of the year, and the lead up to what was going to be a great few months for Airdrie in their bid for promotion.