Saturday October 18, 2014
SPFL League One
Peterhead
1-1
McAllister 33
Airdrieonians
Parker 41 pen
Keigan Parker's penalty earned Airdrie a point at Peterhead in a match which both sides had golden opportunities to win.
Parker netted his spot-kick following a foul on loan-signing Scott Fraser, after watching Rory McAllister put the home side in front minutes earlier.
Diamonds' boss Gary Bollan made two changes to the line-up which beat Brechin 4-0 at New Broomfield last weekend, defenders Ben Richards-Everton and David Proctor dropping out of the squad to be replaced by Luca Gasparotto and Nathan Blockley.
It was McAllister who had the first chance for Jim McInally's men on three minutes, driving a shot wide from just inside the box.
Scott Gray was keen to test Blue Toon goalkeeper Graeme Smith from range, going close with two attempts from outside the penalty area.
Blockley, who scored a wonderful lobbed goal last Saturday, passed up a gilt-edged chance on 13 minutes when he rounded Smith only to lose his footing with the goal gaping.
Peterhead then had a spell of pressure, David Cox and Ross Smith going close.
Former St.Johnstone and Blackpool striker Parker was thwarted twice, a Smith save and a goal-line clearance from Ross denying the forward.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Peterhead took the lead when McAllister slotted past McNeil. The Diamonds defence looked slightly aggrieved as they thought Luca Gasparotto had been fouled in the build-up, but the goal stood.
It took the Lanarkshire men only eight minutes to restore parity, Scott Fraser going down in the box under a clumsy challenge from Dean Richardson.
Referee Gavin Ross pointed to the spot, and Parker despatched the penalty kick high into the top right corner of Smith's net.
In a second-half where the home side looked to dominate possession, ex-Diamond Jamie Stevenson and David Cox drew saves from McNeil in the Airdrie goal.
Ross Smith was again keen to join the attack, and he struck the post with a 52nd minute effort.
In second half often interrupted by niggling fouls, the clearest chance fell to the home side at the death.
A probing ball into the Airdrie box sparked a six-man goal line scramble which saw the underside of the bar struck before the danger was cleared.
The last chance of the match fell to the visitors with a stoppage-time corner, but it came to nothing.
Results elsewhere mean that the Diamonds drop back down to 9th place, but an injury-hit squad will consider this a decent point on the road, with a visit to bottom club Stirling Albion looming next weekend.
Stuart Mathie.