Captain Stewart is leading example just like his father

Airdrie first-team coach Stephen Findlay was full of praise for his young team as the Diamonds defeated Queen’s Park.

A double for captain Scott Stewart and goals from forward Willis Furtado and Dean Cairns got the New Broomfield men back to winning ways.

The double by visiting midfielder Dominic Docherty offered little consolation for the visitors - who sit in the relegation play-off place.

Findlay, who was officially taking charge of the team for the first time, felt the points were well deserved.

“The work rate and attitude of the players was excellent,”he said. “We were disappointed to lose the two goals the way we did, but the work ethic and spirit of the team ensured we created the opportunities to get something positive from the game.

“We knew we would have to compete well and the boys did. It was very much a strong team A real captain’s performance by two-goal Scott Stewart helped the Diamonds to a much more emphatic victory over Queen’s Park than the 4-2 scoreline suggests.

The best part of two decades has elapsed, of course, since Scott’s father last pulled on the skipper’s armband for the club but Stewart junior showed on Saturday that leading by example runs in the family.

Not that the young wing back was alone in shining for newlyconfirmed first-team coach, Stephen Findlay. Tom Fry played easily his performance, and I’m delighted for the players.

“It’s a very young team for this league but you can see what it means to them and how well they handled the aggressive aspects of the game.”

Stand-in skipper Stewart gave the home side the lead in seven minutes after some neat play with Furtado allowed him to slot the ball in from the edge of the box.

The Hampden outfit drew the game level when Docherty’s cross looped over Rohan Ferguson.

The New Broomfield men took the lead again after Cairns tapped the ball home, before Stewart scored his second as he outpaced the Queen’s defence and put the ball under Willie Muir.

Furtado then got on the scoresheet as he out-muscled the creaking visiting backline, before some hesitant defending by the Diamonds handed Docherty his second. best 90 minutes in an Airdrie shirt while Dean Cairns again impressed with his dig and drive. And up front, Willis Furtado produced a masterclass in leading the line.

Last week’s blog finished on a ponderous note as the question as to where our goals would come from this term was asked. Yet, with Hastie for Russell the only change from Kirkcaldy, scoring didn’t appear to be a problem this time round. Perhaps a little more adventurousness would be worth a try.

Now we just have to get the defence sorted out. Both goals conceded on Saturday were farcical and might have proved catastrophic.