Our Under 19s suffered a massive setback in there hopes to advance to the semi finals of the league cup as they lost 3-2 against Stenhousemuir Under 19s at Ochilview in there penultimate group game of the campaign.

For the game our Under 19s made two changes to the starting eleven from the previous game as Graeme Goodall and Drew Ramsay were handed starts in place of the injured David Cane and the unavailable Michael Hutchinson. Also Under 17s top Goalscorer Tony Watt was included amongst the substitutes.

First Half

The game got off to a fast start and during the second minute Scott Sally had the first chance of it for our Young Diamonds when he hit a shot from the top of the box but Stenhousemuir goalkeeper James McLellan made the save and a minute later Scott Sally had another chance when he slid in to get onto the end of a low Fraser Keast cross into the box but this time his shot went flying over the bar. Stenhousemuir then had there first chance of the game when they hit a shot from inside the box but Gianluca Corvi parried the ball away and from the rebound another shot was saved by Gianluca Corvi.

Airdrie had another fantastic chance to take the lead on the 5th minute as Ryan Donnelly ran onto a delightful Jonny Fisher through ball and with only James McLellan to beat he tried to lob the ball over him but the ball went over the bar. Four minutes later Airdrie had there fourth chance of the game when they won a free kick about 20 yards from goal as from it Jonny Fisher hit a shot but the ball went flying over the bar and shortly after this Stenhousemuir had another chance when they hit a shot from inside the box but Gianluca Corvi again parried the ball away and from the defence cleared the rebound.

On the 11th minute Airdrie had another chance when Ryan Donnelly hit a shot on the half volley from the top of the box and it went flying into the bottom corner of the net to give our Under 19s the lead and for his second goal of the league cup campaign. Airdrie then went in search of a second goal and on the 17th minute Ally Morgan hit a shot from inside the box but it went into the side netting. Two minutes later a defensive slip up let Stenhousemuir in on goal and they rounded Gianluca Corvi and tapped the ball into the net for the equalizer.

Things got worse for our Under 19s as on the 23rd minute Ally Morgan had to come off injured and this meant Grant Easton came on. A minute later Stenhousemuir hit a shot from about 25 yards out which Gianluca Corvi got a hand to but the ball went into the net and Stenhousemuir took the lead. Airdrie almost equalized on the 26th minute as from a Fraser Keast cutback inside the box Ryan Donnelly hit a shot but the ball rattled the bar and went over. Six minutes later Paddy McCabe ambitiously hit a shot from about 25 yards out but it went well wide.

Stenhousemuir had the next two chances on the 34th and 35th minutes but both shots were parried away by Gianluca Corvi and cleared by the defence. Before the next chance Jamie Bain was yellow carded for Airdrie and on the 41st minute Ryan Donnelly had a chance for our Under 19s when he hit a shot from inside the box but it went wide. There was still time for both teams to have a chance before half time but Stenhousemuir’s shot was saved and Fraser Keast’s shot from a free kick about 25 yards from goal went over the bar and Airdrie headed into half time a goal down.

Second Half

Stenhousemuir started the half brightly and after only two minutes of it they should have extended there lead as from a cross into the box the ball was headed goalwards and from no more than a few yards out another header went goalwards but it went wide. A minute later Stenhousemuir had another chance when they won a free kick about 25 yards from goal but the shot went over the bar and on the 55th minute they won a corner and from it the ball was crossed into the box and a shot sent goalwards but Gianluca Corvi made the save.

Airdrie settled down though and on the 57th minute Jamie Bain had a shot from inside the box parried away by James McLellan and the ball was eventually cleared for a corner and from the resulting corner the ball was crossed to the back post and Ryan Donnelly sent a header goalwards but the ball hit the bar and went over. Stenhousemuir then had the next three chances but the first shot on the 59th minute was parried away by Gianluca Corvi and cleared by the defence and the other two shots on the 63rd and 64th minutes went wide.

On the 68th minute Airdrie came close again as from a dangerous Graeme Goodall cross into the box James McLellan had to tip the ball onto the bar at full stretch and from the corner the ball was crossed into the box and Jamie Bain sent a powerful header goalwards which looked to be going on target but a Stenhousemuir player was on hand to head the ball clear and ensure they kept the lead. A minute later Stenhousemuir had another chance when they hit a shot from inside the box but Gianluca Corvi turned it around the post and from the resulting corner Airdrie cleared the danger.

Before the next chance Airdrie’s Paddy McCabe was yellow carded on the 73rd minute and Tony Watt came on for Scott Sally a minute later. Shortly after this Jonny Fisher had a chance when he hit a shot from inside the box but James McLellan pulled off his best save of the game by turning the ball around the post and before the corner could be taking Ryan Donnelly was yellow carded and then from the corner the ball was crossed into the box and Jamie Bain sent a header goalwards but it went over the bar.

With only ten minutes of the game remaining Airdrie made a tactical substitution by taking defender Graeme Goodall off and bringing on striker Aiden Malone so they could go three up front and two minutes later they had a chance when Tony Watt hit a shot from about 20 yards out but it went wide. On the 83rd minute Stenhousemuir caught our Under 19s out on the counter attack and from a cutback inside the box an unmarked player fired the ball into the net to increase the lead. Airdrie refused to give up though and on the 86th minute Tony Watt hit a shot from the top of the box but James McLellan brilliantly tipped the ball over the bar and the corner was cleared. A minute later Tony Watt had another chance when he was played through on goal and this time he slotted the ball by James McLellan and into the net to pull a goal back but Airdrie were unable to create any more chances and lost the game 3-2.

Team

Starting 11

1 – Trialist Gianluca Corvi, 2 – Jamie Bain, 3 – Graeme Goodall, 4 – Drew Ramsay,

5 – Paul Byrne, 6 – Paddy McCabe (Captain), 7 – Fraser Keast, 8 – Jonny Fisher,

9 – Scott Sally, 10 – Ryan Donnelly, 11 – Ally Morgan

Subs – Used

12 – Grant Easton for 11 – Ally Morgan, 14 – Tony Watt for 9 – Scott Sally,

15 – Aiden Malone for 3 – Graeme Goodall

Subs – Not Used

16 – David Cane, 17 – Andy Collier