City had almost half of their squad unavailable for the match against St Johnstone a fortnight ago, but the break last week-end has allowed most of those injuries to clear up. City did not have it easy over the break though, as Pink organised a friendly against Edinburgh Athletic in which Brechin won 5-0, with Chris Templeman getting on the scoresheet twice. Craig McEwan and Steve Hampshire were the only worries for the game while Kevin Byers, Darren Smith, Scott Wilson, Gary Bollan and Grant Johnson all returned from injury.
With rain lashing down since noon, the Glebe Park playing surface was in poor condition so the match had the ingredients of a scrappy game, and it certainly turned out so.
Airdrie started off the better of the two teams and it wasn’t long before Craig Nelson was tested in the Brechin goal. Experienced striker Brian McPhee turned away from Scott Walker before lashing a shot towards goal which was well saved by Nelson. City’s first chance of the half fell to Scott Walker when he rose above the Airdrie defence but his header went wide of Stephen Robertson’s goal. McPhee had another go for goal just a minute later but his shot skimmed the bar.
City came agonisingly close to the opening goal with half an hour gone. Ally Mitchell’s drive from 25 yards took a wicked deflection off an Airdrie defender with the keeper already down to his right, and as the ball looked to go the opposite way Stephen Robertson somehow managed to save the ball going in with his toe, and just as Alex Burns looked to ram home the rebound, the linesman had already flagged for offside.
That was all the first half had to offer and the 620 hardy souls were hoping the second half could only get better.
Willie McLaren was proving to be a constant thorn in the flesh for the City defence and he tested Craig Nelson on two occasions just after the restart. McLaren got the better of Scott Wilson before firing at the legs of Craig Nelson. He then somehow got a header towards goal from a cross which was comfortably saved by Nelson, despite the winger being one of the smallest players on the field.
Chris Templeman, who made his debut playing in an unfamiliar midfield role for the first hour, turned on the style as he switched to his more familiar position, upfront. The big striker was keen to make an impact as he did many of his trademark turns to lose his marker. ‘Sanny’ came close when he rose above the Airdrie defence but his header went straight into the arms of Robertson in the Airdrie goal. This was then followed up by a superb turn and shot by the big man but Robertson once again got down well to save.
Both managers made substitutions but that appeared to be the last action is what overall a very poor game. City may have gained a point but it felt like a defeat as City supporters found out that Queen of the South had won 3-2 at Dens Park against Dundee. City now have face an uphill struggle to catch Queens who will no doubt be looking to close the gap further on Stranraer above them.
City now face a real six pointer against Queen of the South next week at Palmerston. This is make or break time for City, if they win then they will have it all to play for but if they lose, our season looks finished.