Airdrie Utd 19’s V Central Scottish Select

Airdrie Utd 2 Central Scottish 3

Central Scottish Select got their preparations for their first game in the John Smiths Trophy underway with a quickly arranged friendly against Airdrie United under 19’s.

The Select team got off to a good start and looked really compact with Gerry Jamieson (Wishaw HSFP) sweeping behind Gary Sheridan (Pollok) who attacked everything that came his way and the safe hands of Mark Mulvenna (St Patricks FPs) scooping up anything that Sheridan and Jamieson missed, not that Jamieson missed much.  At right full back the strength and pace of Ross Campbell (Harestanes) and the impressive young Josh Mullin (Pollok) at left back made it difficult for Airdrie to get around the Central Scottish defence.

Airdrie had most of the early play and their slick passing and fantastic off the ball movement was pleasing on the eye but it was Central who broke the deadlock. The mercurial Alex Clearie (Drumchapel Utd) played an inch perfect diagonal ball to lone striker Bryan Dingwall (Colville Park) who teased the Airdrie defence before getting his shot off. The Airdrie keepers block reached the edge of the box and first to react was Ewan McRae (Harestanes) with a wonderfully struck shot high into the net.

Some slack play by Central then allowed Airdrie an opportunity to get back into the game and they took it without hesitation. This seemed to give them a little bit of belief and Mark Mulvenna had to pull off two outstanding saves to keep the game level.

Central soon regained their advantage with another well worked move finished off by Alex Clearie from 12 yards. Once again Bryan Dingwall was the provider after some wonderful play involving Josh Mullin and Tommy Murray (Drumchapel Utd) who worked the ball forward to the clever striker and his delicate layoff to Alex Clearie was inch perfect.

The second half seen a few changes for both teams with Central’s Ross Campbell making way for Jamie Chalmers (Steins Thistle) and Gary Sheridan for Gary Miller (Wishaw HSFP) The hard working Kevin Cawley (Harestanes) dropped in to centre half from his right midfield slot and this was filled by Kirk Forbes (Stedfast)

Central kept up their impressive tempo and took the game to Airdrie in the second half. Alex Clearie was more and more joining Bryan Dingwall up front now and they were giving the Airdrie defence a hard time with their movement. Alex Clearie had a great chance to put Central 3-1 ahead when a clever reverse pass by James Hall (Cambusnethan Talbot) put him in one v one against the keeper but he pulled his shot wide in the end. James Hall should also have scored during this spell but his header into the lush New Broomfield turf beat the keeper but also made its way just over the bar.

Jamie Broadfoot (Harestanes) did make it 3-1 after some wonderful build up play that started with Josh Mullin’s switch from the left wing to the right. Jamie Chalmers fed the ball forward to Kirk Forbes who quickly found Alex Clearie and he in turn slipped a wonderful ball inside the Airdrie fullback for Ewan McRae and his first time cross picked out the intelligent run into the box by the Harestanes striker who smashed his right foot finish high into the net.

Airdrie managed to pull a goal back with the last kick of the ball when a Kevin Cawley clearance to the edge of the box was well struck past Mark Mulvenna in the Central goal.

Central will play another friendly against Queens Park at Lesser Hampden on Monday the 6^th of February before travelling to Ayrshire for the first game of the John Smiths trophy on Sunday the 12^th of February.

Squad:

Mark Mulvenna - St Patricks FP

Ross Campbell - Harestanes

Josh Mullin - Pollok

Gerry Jamieson - Wishaw HSFP

Kirk Forbes - Stedfast

Gary Sheridan - Pollok

Kevin Cawley - Harestanes

Alex Clearie - Drumchapel United

Bryan Dingwall - Colville Park

Ewan McRae - Harestanes

Thomas Murray - Drumchapel United

Gary Miller - Wishaw HSFP

James Hall - Cambusnethan Talbot

James Chalmers - Steins Thistle

Jamie Broadfoot - Harestanes