AIRDRIE should have been feeling completely at peace with the world
yesterday -- you know, the warm glow, satisfied with life after an 8-1
victory at Broadwood, allied to a defeat for promotion rivals
Dunfermline, which catapulted them clear at the top of the first
division.
But assistant manager John McVeigh -- not renowned as the calmest
individual in the great game -- still sounded slightly in awe of the
events at Broadwood Stadium 24 hours earlier when four Stranraer players
were red-carded by referee Andrew Waddell, three more visitors booked,
and Airdrie's Paul Jack stretchered off with a leg injury -- and all on
top of the shock of losing a goal inside a minute to the bottom club.
''I'm just relieved we managed to maintain our discipline with all
that was going on around the field,'' was said with feeling by a man
currently serving ''time'' away from the dugout, and who has been a part
of a team who have taken great pains to clean up their act after having
incurred the wrath of the SFA a couple of seasons back.
The result, especially this season, has been more attractive football
on most occasions, and deserved leadership for consistency alone. Let
the record show that after Tony Gallagher's opening goal in 34 seconds,
two goals each for John Davies and Steve Cooper, two penalty goals for
Jimmy Boyle, plus strikes by Paul Harvey and Andy Smith took care of the
scoreboard.
Tommy Walker was the first Stranraer player to see red after an
off-the-ball incident involving Jack, and Tommy Callaghan walked after a
challenge on Smith. Lex Grant's clumsy tackle on Jack and Steve Cody's
dissent completed the list.
Dunfermline's long run as leaders came to a shuddering halt two
minutes from time at East End Park when Dundee substitute Paul Ritchie
hammered the ball into the net after an Ian Anderson shot had come off a
post.
The defeat -- the first in the league for 26 games at East End Park --
brought the wry remark from manager Bert Paton that ''the goals have
dried up. That's two games without scoring.''
Dundee manager Jim Duffy was delighted with his side's efforts,
especially those of the five teenagers he had had to draft in.
Coca-Cola Cup winners Raith Rovers needed Gordon Dalziel to hit the
net again to earn them a point down at Ayr, while another veteran
striker, Ken Eadie, was on the mark for Clydebank to equalise a Harry
Curran goal for St Johnstone at Perth.
Hamilton Accies continue to climb clear of trouble, their 1-0 win
against St Mirren at Paisley coming from a Peter Duffield strike.
Saints, however, are beginning to drift alarmingly in third-bottom spot
-- a point made clear by their fans at Love Street after the match.
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