Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Cairn keep their cool to dump angry Vale
Greig’s men hold on to top spot after tousy match
Gartcairn ................... 1 Vale of Clyde ............. 0
Gartcairn boss Davie Greig praised his players for keeping their discipline in a bad-tempered game against Vale of Clyde.
Ryan Donnelly scored his third goal in two games since signing for the club to cement their place at the top of the table – and give the MTC Park men a five-point cushion in the promotion spots.
However, a flurry of bookings and red cards saw the visitors finish the game with just eight men.
Cairn only received a single yellow card and Greig was happy his players kept their cool despite the tough circumstances.
He told the Advertiser: “Vale of Clyde lost their discipline. I’m happy with the boys that they didn’t do the same.
“It was a situation of their own making but it would have been easy for our players to lose their heads.
“They didn’t – and we we played well against a decent side.”
He continued: “We had loads of chances and you’re hoping you can take at least another one of them to give yourself that bit of breathing space.
“They sat in and made themselves difficult to break down with the nine players before another player was sent off later.
“I didn’t think we were in danger of losing the three points.”
Trouble broke out early on as former Clyde and Queen’s Park midfielder Darren Miller was booked for Vale of Clyde after a clash with Cairn man Ryan O’Donnell.
The incident acted as a catalyst with the official flashing a huge nine yellow cards and two reds for the Vale of Clyde men before the break.
The home side took advantage and Jamie Leslie’s neat ball put Donnelly through on goal to give them the lead.
The second half saw another Vale of Clyde man see red – and despite plenty of chances the game finished with the Airdrie side holding on to their narrow lead.
The result keeps Cairn top of the table and builds the momentum from the fourgame winning run – but Greig is adamant that there is room for improvement in his side.
“Our performances have been good but there areas areas in which we could improve,” he said.
“Since we lost to Vale of Leven 5-0, I have seen the players improve vastly. But even at this stage of the season we only have two players who have featured every week – Murray Spooner and Jamie Leslie.
“We will aim to keep getting better and keeping this run going against Lanark.”