League Game 10; Venue – Glasgow Green

Match Report

Our Under 19s took on Morton Under 19s at Glasgow Green in a league fixture which was brought forward from Sunday 06 December and they came from a goal to earn a draw thanks to a Scott Sally strike.

For the game our Under 19s made one change to the starting eleven from the previous league game against Stenhousemuir as Fraser Keast was missing through injury and this meant Scott Sally was handed a start.

First Half

After a slow start to the game Morton had the first chance of it on the 10th minute when they won a free kick about 25 yards from goal as from it the ball was crossed into the box and Mark Melville sent a header goalwards but it went wide. Three minutes later Morton had another chance as from a cross into the box a header was sent goalwards but Jamie Bain was on the line and he cleared the danger.

Our Young Diamonds had to wait until the 24th minute for there first chance when they won a free kick on the left wing as from it Grant Easton crossed the ball into the box and Jamie Bain sent a header goalwards but it went wide. Two minutes later Morton had another chance when a fantastic through ball was chased down by a Morton forward and as Andy Collier tried to narrow the angle the Morton player slotted it by him but David Cane got back in time to stop it on the line however Morton’s Ryan Kane reacted quickly and fired the ball into the net to give Morton the lead. Then on the 28th minute Ryan Kane had another chance for Morton when he hit a shot from about 20 yards out but Andy Collier made the save.

Airdrie had only there second chance of the game on the 33rd minute when Ryan Donnelly cleverly played Aiden Malone in on goal and with only Morton goalkeeper Ryan McWilliams to beat he hit a shot but Ryan excellently parried the ball away and his defence cleared the danger. Three minutes later Grant Easton had a chance for Airdrie when they won a free kick about 20 yards from goal as from it he hit a shot but it went over the bar.

Both teams was to have one more chance before half time and on the 40th minute Morton had there chance when Chris McGlaughlin hit a shot from inside the box but it went wide and a minute later Airdrie had the final chance of the half when Jonny Fisher hit a shot from the top of the box but it went high and wide and Airdrie headed into half time a goal down.

Second Half

Before the half began Airdrie made there first substitution as Ally Morgan made his comeback from injury by coming on for Grant Easton. However before any team could have a chance Paddy McCabe was yellow carded on the 47th minute and two minutes later Airdrie had the first chance of the half when Aiden Malone was played in on goal and with only Ryan McWilliams to beat he hit a shot but it went wide. The next chance was not until the 60th minute and it was for Morton as there player beat Andy Collier to a ball on the wing and he attempted to chip Andy but his chip went over the bar.

On the 62nd minute Airdrie had there second chance of the half and equalized through as from an inch perfect dangerous Ally Morgan delivery Scott Sally headed into the net for the equalizer. Before the game restarted Airdrie made there second substitution as Graeme Goodall who also making his comeback from injury came on for Shaun McKay but before the next chance Jonny Fisher was yellow carded for Airdrie. Then on the 66th minute Jonny Fisher set up the next chance for our Under 19s when he sent a low cross into the box and Scott Sally turned it goalwards but Ryan McWilliams brilliantly turned the ball around the post and from the corner the ball was crossed into the box and only cleared as far as Paddy McCabe who was about 25 yards from goal and he hit a shot but it went wide.

Airdrie was to continue searching for a goal and on the 73rd minute had a chance when they won a free kick about 25 yards from goal as from it Jonny Fisher hit a shot but it was tipped over the bar and from the corner the ball was cleared. Four minutes later Ryan McWilliams made the best save of the game for Morton as from an Aiden Malone cross into the box Ryan Donnelly sent a shot goalwards about six yards out but it was fantastically parried away and Morton cleared the danger. Ryan Donnelly and Jonny Fisher was next to have goes for Airdrie but both there efforts went over the bar.

With only five minutes of the game remaining Morton had there second chance of the half when they won a free kick about 30 yards from goal as from it the ball was crossed into the box and a header was sent goalwards but it went wide. Two minutes later Scott Sally nearly scored a second goal of the game as from a cross come shot the ball rattled the bar and Morton cleared the danger. Then on the 88th minute Airdrie made there final substitution as Drew Ramsay came on for Ally Morgan who had picked up an injury. However it was Morton who had the next chance a minute later when they won a free kick about 25 yards from goal as from it Nathan Shepherd hit a shot but Andy Collier made the save.  There was still time for both teams to have one more chance but Ryan Donnelly’s effort for Airdrie was saved and Morton’s effort was saved by Andy Collier to ensure both teams earned a point.

Team

Starting 11

1 – Andy Collier, 2 – Shaun McKay, 3 – Paul Byrne – Man of the Match,

4 – Jamie Bain, 5 – David Cane, 6 – Jonny Fisher, 7 – Grant Easton,

8 – Paddy McCabe (Captain), 9 – Aiden Malone, 10 – Ryan Donnelly,

11 – Scott Sally – 1 Goal

Subs – All Used

15 – Trialist Ally Morgan for 11 – Grant Easton

12 – Graeme Goodall for 2 – Shaun McKay,

14 – Drew Ramsay for 15 – Trialist Ally Morgan,