Airdrie United 1 Dundee 0

Published on Saturday 24 January 2009 18:41

AIRDRIE deserved the three points that manager Kenny Black craved to pull his side closer to the other teams in the overly tight First Division. Paul Di Giacomo's volley midway through the second half saw off a disappointing Dundee team.

The game was halted after three minutes when referee Brian Winter noticed that Dundee had two No.5 jerseys on the park and Kyle Benedictus had to leave the pitch to put on his allocated No.6 top.

The match threatened to get off to an open start when Willie McLachlan crossed for Di Giacomo and his drive forced a fine save from Rab Douglas. The ball was cleared to the other end and Colin McMenamin got in behind the Diamonds' defence, but he screwed his shot wide.

Both teams saw this as a sign to close their opponents down and although Kevin McDonald had a drive deflected wide neither keeper was called into much action in the rest of the half.

Airdrie came close to breaking the deadlock when Simon Lynch went on a solo run in 56 minutes and rattled Douglas' bar.

Airdrie finally went ahead when Matt Hazley sent in a free kick from the left low into the box where Lynch flicked the ball into the air and Di Giacomo ran in to volley it through Douglas' legs from seven yards out.

Dundee tried to hit back and Eddie Malone crossed from the left for McMenamin but he headed straight into Robertson's arms. Airdrie came within inches of another goal when Stephen McKenna headed goalward where Eric Paton cleared off the line.