Cove still in tie with“bouncebackability”
Airdrie boss Ian Murray predicted a “cup final” approach when the two teams meet in the second leg on Tuesday night, with both managers agreeing that very little was learnt from the first-leg clash at Balmoral Stadium.
“It’s half-time and there is a lot of football to be played to decide who comes out on top,” began the Diamond’s manager.
“Nothing was ever going to be decided here – very rarely is a play-off decided early. I am hoping for an exciting game in midweek, an open game with a higher quality, and it will have more of a cup final feel to it.”
“Cove were marginally better than us today and, for Callum Gallagher’s goal, we got a little bit of luck.”
His opposite number, Paul
Hartley, was generally in agreement, but praised his side’s bouncebackability after conceding a own goal early in the second half.
He said: “We did well to come back from a goal down. We conceded from a bit of misfortune at the back, but the players were terrific and gave everything.
“We maybe weren’t clinical enough in the final third, but it was always going to be a close game. With it being the first leg, there is a lot at stake. It will be another tough game at Airdrie on Tuesday, and the game is still in the balance.”
Seven days earlier, Airdrie scored twice in the second half to claim victory over Cove and it looked like history was set to repeat itself when the visitors opened the scoring on 54 minutes.
Paul Mckay picked out Gallagher and his fizzed ball across the goal was deflected over the outstretched arms of Stuart Mckenzie by home defender Ross Graham.
The Diamonds had a great chance to double their advantage just after the hour when the ball fell kindly for Dale Carrick, but he turned his close-range effort wide.
Two minutes later, the Toonsers levelled. Mitch Megginson and Rory Mcallister teamed up for an initial effort that was blocked back into the path of Leighton Mcintosh, who guided the ball into the gaping goal.
With the wind at their backs, Cove pressed for a winner and ex-motherwell goalie Max Currie performed well in the Airdrie goal.
Having turned a stinging 25-yard effort from Mcallister around the post, Currie was also relieved to see former Peterhead man Mcallister cannon his shot off the upright.
Megginson passed up the last opportunity of the game to leave the tie perfectly poised.