Airdrieonians 2 Queen’s Park 1

Coming off a midweek victory to mark Queen’s Park’s first cup final in 125 years, the Spiders travelled to face an Airdrie side full of confidence from a victory against ninth placed Dunfermline in their last outing. It was to be an encounter full of high drama and talking points. Unfortunately for Queen’s, it was the home side who took all three points.

Queen’s made one change to the starting eleven with new loan signing Adam Devine from Rangers making his debut, replacing Zach Mauchin at right back. Queen’s made their intent clear in the first minute and forced a corner on the Airdrie left but the danger was cleared by the Airdrie defence.

A great chance was created for Queen’s Park to go one up in the third minute. A through ball from Sean Welsh in the inside left channel picked out Seb Drozd’s run into the penalty box, saw him draw the Airdrie keeper and send the ball towards the Airdrie goal only for it to be cleared off the line by a retreating defender.

Airdrie’s response was to create a number of shooting opportunities after some neat interchanges on the outside of the Queen’s penalty box. In quick succession Queen’s keeper Cal Ferrie had his palms stung saving efforts from the Airdrie attack. A training ground move from a corner saw Airdrie’s McMaster being set up to fire in a right foot shot from 12 yards that Ferrie managed to block, and it was cleared to safety.

The first quarter of the game saw nice build up play from both sides on the counter but with no real goal threats, although Queen’s keeper Ferrie was the busier of the two keepers. Airdrie were forced into the first change with left back Strapp disclocating his right shoulder when attempting to launch a long throw down the left flank and was replaced by substitute Duffy.

Queen’s new signing, Adam Devine, was booked after 18 minutes when he pulled down an Airdrie attacker having lost possession when tussling for the ball. From the resultant free kick some 35 yards out, the ball was worked infield to McMaster in a central position whose attempt from 25 yards was dragged wide of Queen’s left hand post.

The game’s best clear- cut opportunity fell to Queen’s in the 35 minute from a corner on Queen’s left. The clearance by the Airdrie defence was picked up by Devine, who quickly found Louis Longridge who swung in a right footed cross into the Airdrie penalty box where Nikola Ujdur made good contact. Unfortunately for the travelling fans, his header from 15 yards went straight into the Airdrie keeper’s hands.

In reply, Airdrie pressed the game and were camped in Queen’s final third, probing gaps for their forwards to play quick passes which the Queen’s defence blocked resulting in a number of corners being awarded before half time.

Controversy then occurred in added on time in the first half.

From a Queen’s clearance from one of the Airdrie corners, the ball was returned into the Queen’s box and referee Sneddon adjudged a hand ball offence had been committed and awarded a spot kick, much to the frustration of Queen’s defenders close to the incident. Ben Wilson stepped up and sent Ferrie the wrong way to put Airdrie one up at the break.

Half time: Airdrie 1 Queen’s Park 0

Debates at half time on the spot kick quickly gave way to the start of the second forty- five as play got back underway. The Queen’s defence at times in the first half appeared hesitant in their exchanges across the back four. The same habits were repeating themselves at the start of the second half. Will Tizzard was dispossessed in the Queen’s half and an Airdrie counter- attack got underway with the ball switched to the Airdrie left flank. From the resultant cross to the back post, Airdrie’s Diack’s goal bound header rebound off the covering Tizzard and was cleared.

Queen’s had a penalty shout of their own 5 minutes later. New boy Devine whipped over a great ball across the Airdrie 6 yard line. Zak Rudden and an Airdrie defender tussled for the ball at the back post, however the referee waved away loud appeals for a Queen’s penalty.

Chasing the game, Queen’s made a couple of substitutions in 60 minutes and showed their attacking intent with Duncan and Drozd replaced by Hinds and Evans. Not long after the substitutions Queen’s were level. A run by the impressive Devine saw a one-two movement with Welsh before the debutant slide an inch perfect pass through the home defence which found the on-rushing Josh Scott who finished neatly from six yards to tie the score at 1-1 – game on!

Both teams sensed when in possession they had the chance to score as the game became more open with passes going astray, allowing counter attacks to be set up putting pressure on both defences.

Airdrie were awarded their second penalty of the game after 75 minutes. An attack down Queen’s right saw a cross into the box which bobbled around and the referee once again adjudged a Queen’s defender committed a hand ball offence and awarded the home side their second spot kick of the afternoon. Ben Wilson again confidently slotted home the penalty to restore Airdrie’s lead.

On 74 minutes Queen’s made their final change in a bid to get back on level terms, Longridge being replaced by Timan Scott. This was countered by Airdrie making a triple substitution to freshen up their midfield.

Queen’s began to chase the game which allowed Airdrie space to launch counter attacks. In the 89 minute Airdrie latched onto a defensive clearance from a Queen’s attack and released a pass down Queen’s inside left channel. The Airdrie forward raced clear, and as Cal Ferrie rushed to narrow the angle, the shot went narrowly past the post and the chance was lost.

The last minute of the game saw further controversy. A Queen’s counter-attack saw Welsh float a deep cross from midfield to the back post where the on-rushing Devine attacked the cross. Devine’s head and the boot of an Airdrie defender came close together with the Queen’s players making loud appeals for a penalty. The referee decide to award nothing more than a goal kick and in the arguments which followed Adam Devine was show a second yellow card and Queen’s Head Coach was also red carded for dissent.

A stormy conclusion to a game that was played in good spirits by both teams, however it was the home side who gained all three points. Queen’s need to dust themselves down and prepare for Rangers away in the Scottish Cup next Sunday.

Full Time: Airdrieonians 2 Queen’s Park 1

Airdrieonians: Kieran Wright, Dylan MacDonald, Dean McMaster, Ben Wilson (Lewis McGregor 86 mins), Adam Frizzell (Cammy Bruce 86 mins), Ricco Diack (Chris Mochrie 60 mins), Craig Watson, Lewis McGrattan (Cammy Cooper 86 mins), Gavin Gallagher, Lewis Strapp (Flynn Duffy 16 mins), Sam Graham.
Unused Substitutes: C. Melrose, M. Hancock, Rhys McCabe, Liam Mc Stravick.

Queen’s Park: Calum Ferrie (C), Adam Devine, Nikola Ujdur, Will Tizzard, Joshua Scott, Jack Turner, Louis Longridge (Timan Scott 74 mins), Sean Welsh, Ryan Duncan (Reece Evans 57 mins), Seb Drozd (Josh Hinds 58 mins), Zak Rudden.
Unused Substitutes: J. Wills, Z. Mauchin, M. Thomson, B. Jackson, R. Hickey- Fugaccia, D. Carrick

Referee: Iain Sneddon