Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
A ‘perfect’ showing by Gartcairn
Mark Pirie Boss Davie Greig hailed his‘perfect’players as they hit seven past Vale of Clyde to hold onto top spot in the table.
The Central Division District Two outfit stay top on goal difference as they demolished their Fullarton counterparts.
Former East Kilbride Thistle player Liam McLaughlin filled the boots of star man Ryan Donnelly, who was sidelined with injury, as he bagged a double.
Strikes from January singing Thomas Kilmartin, Kevin Ross, Declan McGuigan, Jake Morris and Gary Arbuckle made it a comfortable afternoon at MTC Park.
Vale of Clyde scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot.
Despite the margin of victory, the game was a bad-tempered affair with a flurry of red cards seeing Cairn captain Ross handed a controversial second yellow – along with two of the visiting Vale men.
Greig admitted that he didn’t expect there to be such a resounding margin of victory – especially with midfielder Mark Tait filling in between the sticks as Cairn were unable to field a goalkeeper.
“They are a good side and with their games in hand they will still fancy themselves to have a bit of a shot at promotion,”he told the Advertiser.
“We just burst out of the traps and were absolutely flying.
“Some of our link-up play was outstanding and we took our chances well.
“I can’t fault the players at all. They were perfect.
“It could have been a hard game but we put in a great performance which you need at this time of the season.”
He continued:“Mark (Tait) played in goals for us for about half an hour in the Junior Cup and did well, so he was confident going in again.
“It’s one of those that you think it might not be your day when you have to put an outfield player in goals but he did well.
“There was a chance at 2-0 that he saved. If that goes 2-1 it could change the game; but well done to him.
“He’ll be disappointed that he didn’t get to keep the clean sheet after their penalty in the end.
“In the circumstances we can only be delighted with the result.“
Cairn will travel to Bellshill this weekend to take on their promotion rivals and Greig admits it is now crunch time for the Airdrie men.
“It’s that time of the season where the wins really matter.
“Bellshill gives you a game that can build your momentum or it can halt us. One defeat and the mood can change. It can feel really doom and gloom.
“With the teams behind us are all pretty much one result, or one victory away from closing the gap on us.
“There are about five sides who would fancy the chance of going up or being there about. It’s that tight.”