Airdrie United 1 - 0 Clyde: Di Giacomo maintains hope for Diamonds

Published on Sunday 22 February 2009 21:27

Di Giacomo (5)

BBC ALBA perhaps got more than they bargained for from this rugged relegation clash at the Excelsior Stadium which featured a red card, a mini-brawl and a burst ball.

Amid the blood and thunder there was also some skilful football and at the end of it bottom club Airdrie United closed to within a point of their visitors and the last-chance saloon of a play-off spot at the foot of the First Division.

Clyde made the brighter start, but found themselves a goal adrift as the home side scored with their first attack of the game.

Matt Hazley was the architect with a surging run from deep in his own half. The wing-back fed Kevin McDonald, who released former Kilmarnock player Paul Di Giacomo and the striker's angled drive went through a ruck of players on its way into the net.

Clyde, however, with Willie McLaren displaying some neat skills, continued to make the running. Indeed, McLaren looked their most likely source of an equaliser and in 19 minutes his right-foot shot was blocked by Airdrie goalkeeper Stephen Robertson.

McLaren had an even better chance when he fastened on to Marvyn Wilson's long clearance and outpaced the Diamonds defence but his shot drifted wide of the far post.

The same Clyde player was denied for a third time when Alan Lithgow's long through ball was knocked into his path but this time his firm volley was well parried by goalkeeper Robertson.

At the other end, Airdrie almost sneaked a second when Nixon's deep free kick had David Hutton at full stretch to tip over.

The match erupted just before the break when Pat Clarke's horrendous tackle on Stephen McKenna sparked a centre-circle brawl in the aftermath of which the Clyde striker was sent off, while Nixon was shown a yellow card.

There was also the unusual sight of the ball exploding on impact as the combative Wilson launched into a typically crunching tackle.

The visitors twice went close to levelling on the restart, but the excellent Robertson was equal to the efforts of both Scott Gemmill and Billy Gibson.

Airdrie were left to hang on to the slenderest of leads when Di Giacomo failed to add his second when he fired an excellent chance over the bar from ten yards.

However, the Diamonds held out to leave a clutch of clubs above them looking anxiously over their shoulders.

Airdrie Utd: Robertson, McLachlan, Hazley, Smyth, Bobby Donnelly, Nixon, McGuire (Baird 71), McKenna, Di Giacomo (Lynch 83), McDonald, McLaughlin. Subs not used: Darren Smith, Brown, Hollis. Booked: Hazley.

Clyde: Hutton, Brown, Waddell (Ruari MacLennan 69), Higgins, Gibson, Lithgow, Trouten, Wilson (McSwegan 78), Clarke, McKay (Gemmill 45), McLaren. Subs not used: Stevenson, Cherrie. Sent Off: Clarke (39). Booked: Trouten, Ruari MacLennan, McLaren.

Referee: D McDonald

Attendance: 1,189.