Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
DIAMONDS’ TRUE GRIT
Wilson hails narrow win that aids play-off bid
Airdrieonians......................1 Stenhousemuir...................0
Mark Pirie
Airdrieonians boss Mark Wilson praised the determination of his side in their narrow win over bottom of the league Stenhousemuir.
The result keeps the Diamonds in touching distance of the play-off places in fifth place as they look to keep their hopes of promotion alive.
Airdrie started brightly as Iain Russell took the ball down the left wing and his front post cross picked out Adam Brown.
The midfielder’s shot was on target, but on form Stenhousemuir keeper David Crawford reacted well to turn the ball away.
The visitors were frustrating Airdrie and kept the game goalless.
In the second half, the New Broomfield outfit controlled the game, and Russell had a great opportunity to break the deadlock in 52 minutes when Kieran MacDonald’s cross from the left picked him out inside the box but his contact lacked the power to threaten Crawford’s goal.
His next effort was certainly not lacking power. A Ryan Conroy corner picked out Joe Gorman and the central defender’s header was net bound until keeper Crawford pulled off a decent stop, but Russell was on his toes to lash the ball into the net from inside the box.
Stenny thought they had drawn level, after Mason Robertson had the ball in the net after a stunning overhead kick — but saw his effort ruled offside
The visitors conceded a free-kick a minute later and Brown’s delivery put Jordan McGregor in behind the opposition but he was unable to make good contact when faced with the goal in front of him.
The game ended with a whimper from the Warriors as Stenhousemuir’s defender David Marsh kicked out at Russell and was shown a straight red card.
Wilson felt that they could have made the game more comfortable but was happy with their showing. “It’s the kind of performance we need. “Sometimes you need to show a bit of grit. They had chances towards the end of the game, but we held on.
“We dominated and could have had a couple more goals.”
Top goalscorer Andy Ryan was dropped to the bench after he failed a late fitness test but Wilson was optimistic that he would be ready for the Livingston tie on Saturday.
“He was touch and go before the game, but we wanted to give Andy as much time as possible to be able to make the team. However, we didn’t feel he was fit enough to start the game.
“He could have came on for the last 15 minutes if we had needed him, but the boys on the pitch did a great job.
“I thought Iain Russell did really well leading the line.
“We will have fitness tests throughout the week and hopefully he will be ready to face Livingston.”