Airdrieonians v Peterhead

Recap

Airdrieonans       2

Gallagher (4)

Carrick (42pen)

Peterhead          1

S Brown (45+1)

Peterhead left Airdrie with nothing to show for their efforts after going down 2-1 to a Diamonds side that returned to the top of the table alongside Raith Rovers.

The Balmoor side were on the wrong side of two refereeing decisions that could have made all the difference as Jason Brown was pulled up for holding in the box in the first half and the illegal tackle on Jamie Stevenson late on was deemed to have taken place outside of the 18 yard area.

The game got off to a disappointing start for the Blue Toon as they fell behind after just four minutes.

Paddy Boyle headed a cross behind for a corner and from the resultant deadball Sean Crichton’s header was flicked on by Calum Gallagher and despite a frantic attempt by Greg Fleming the ball was judged to have just crept over the line.

The Blue Toon settled and by the time 15 minutes had been played their passing game had clicked into gear with Scott Brown having a shot from the edge of the box charged down after a fine move

Midway through the half Paddy Bole was released down the left and his cross picked out the in-rushing Jack Leitch however he sent his header over the bar.

Airdrie hit-back and Crichton was denied by the legs of Fleming with Kieran Millar sending a rebound effort dipping against the bar.

The Diamonds grabbed their second from the penalty spot three minutes from the break when Jason Brown was picked out for holding Crichton at a corner with Dale Carrick just beating Fleming from 12 yards.

Peterhead got back into things with the last kick of the first half when the ball broke to Scott Brown at the edge of the box and his powerful shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced back before hitting the woodwork again with the referee’s assistant eventually confirming that the ball had crossed the line.

On 55 minutes only the outstretched hand of David Hutton prevented Leitch from turning in a Rory McAllister cross and grabbing an equaliser.

Gary Fraser came on for Ryan Conroy on 67 minutes and the substitute was involved immediately when his free-kick picked out Jason Brown however the ball refused to settle down and give the defender a shot at goal.

Fraser looked to have grabbed a second for Peterhead on 77 minutes with a ferocious 30 yard free-kick however the ball whistled an inch past.

As Peterhead pressed for a deserved second goal Stevenson was pulled down an inch outside of the box according to referee Lloyd Wilson with three minutes to play.

Derek Lyle tapped the free-kick to McAllister and his superb curling effort looked in however it skimmed the bar and that was the last real opening.

Team

Fleming, Ferguson, J Brown, Hooper, Boyle, Conroy (Fraser 67), Ferry, S Brown (Lyle 75), Leitch, McAllister, Smith (Stevenson)

Unused substitutes – Wilson (G/k), Eadie, Dunlop, Armour

Attendance 646