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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Paul Thomson

Airdrie 1 Clyde 1: McGill strikes to earn Diamonds a point in Lanarkshire derby

Airdrieonians missed the chance to close the gap on League One leaders Cove Rangers after fighting back to draw with Clyde in a Lanarkshire derby.

St Mirren loanee Lewis Jamieson fired Clyde in front with a thumping first-half volley, but the Diamonds salvaged a point when substitute Gabby McGill netted 16 minutes from time.

With Cove coming back from 2-0 down to draw at Alloa, a win for Ian Murray's men would have put them to within three points of their rivals at the top of the table but a battling draw keeps them within five points with nine games remaining.

But Airdrie may feel aggrieved not to have taken more from the game after having FOUR penalty claims turned down in the match.

Clyde, who are now unbeaten in seven of their last eight games, stay sixth in the table and still in with a shout of a play-off spot.

The hosts made one change from last week’s 1-0 win at Peterhead as Scott McGill came in to replace Josh Kerr.

Clyde made four changes from their 1-1 draw at Montrose. Josh Bradley-Hurst replaced Neil Parry between the sticks, while Lewis Jamieson returned from suspension and Ross Cunningham was also handed a start. Gregory Tade fell to the bench and Mark Docherty dropped out.

Lewis Jameison is at Clyde on loan from St Mirren (St Mirren FC)

The sides fought out an enthralling 2-2 draw at Broadwood in their previous meeting, with all four goals coming in the final 20 minutes of the clash but this would be a much tighter affair.

Before kick-off the teams observed a minute's silence in memory of life-long Diamonds fan Allan Cowan and former Airdrie and Rangers star Doug Baillie, who passed away last week.

It was the visitors who started brightest and with just five minutes on the clock they should have been ahead. Ally Love's cross from the right was headed onto the crossbar by Jamieson from close range and just as Aaron Splaine looked set to head home the rebound, Craig Watson made a terrific block to clear the ball off the line.

Jon Afolabi was looking for a penalty in 22 minutes when he went down under pressure from Jonathan Page, but referee Calum Scott wasn't interested. Seconds later Afolabi was causing problems again when he weaved into the box and forced a good block from backtracking Bully Wee defenders, before an acrobatic effort on the rebound drifted over the target.

Jon Afolabi in action for Airdrie (John Steven)

Another Airdrie penalty claim fell on deaf ears when Frizzell went down under close attention from Barry Cuddihy, with the Clyde players indicating to the referee the Diamonds man had taken a dive.

The hosts were well on top at this stage and the direct play from Afolabi and Frizzell were causing constant problems.

Incredibly, a third penalty claim for the Diamonds arrived after 36 minutes and, once again, referee Scott wasn't in the mood. On this occasion Afolabi darted into the box and claimed he was felled by Clyde keeper Josh Bradley-Hurst, but Scott infuriated the home support when he raced over to instead book Afolabi for simulation.

With half-time approaching it was Clyde who found the breakthrough - and in some style. Adam Livingstone had an effort blocked just inside the box and when the rebound fell for Jamieson, he caught the it flush on the volley as he rifled an unstoppable strike high into the net past Currie after 43 minutes.

Airdrie responded by bringing on Callum Smith for Scott McGill at the interval, as they looked for that spark to get them back into the contest.

In 57 minutes Calum Gallagher came close to an equaliser when his header from Brody Paterson's cross brought out a good stop from Bradley-Hurst.

Moments later Afolabi went down again in the box to no avail and then Frizzell had a fierce strike palmed away by Bradley-Hurst as Clyde managed to keep their opponents at bay.

Jamieson should have doubled his and Clyde's tally for the day in 62 minutes when Currie parried Livingstone's low drive and the striker somehow pulled the rebound wide from inside the six yard box.
Airdrie substitute Gabby McGill drilled an effort wide as the equaliser continued to elude the Diamonds.
However, seconds later McGill found his way to goal when he poked home Rhys McCabe's cross to grab the equaliser their pressure deserved after 74 minutes.

Danny Lennon, left, and assistant Allan Moore (SUNDAY MAIL)


Incredibly, within a minute Afoloabi picked McGill out at the back post to put Airdrie ahead, but his sidefoot effort sailed over when he really should have scored.
The Diamonds could sense a winner and Gallagher almost found it when his volley flashed just wide of the post 10 minutes from time after a great near-post delivery from Frizzell's free-kick.
However, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in the end.
AIRDRIE: Currie, S McGill (Smith 46), Watson, Paterson, Fordyce, Frizzell, McCabe, Agnew (G McGill 72), Easton, Afolabi, Gallagher.

Scorers: G McGill 74

Bookings: Frizzell, Afolabi

Subs not used: Kerr, Allan, Devenny, McDonald, Ritchie, Walker, Cantley.

CLYDE: Bradley-Hurst, Livingstone, Cuddihy (Mortimer 89), Rumsby, Page, Splaine, Gomis, Jamieson, McAllister, Love (Elsdon 86), Cunningham (Tade 86).

Scorers: Jamieson 42

Bookings: Splaine, Cuddihy, Love

Subs not used: Tade, Andrew, Jones, Nicoll.

HT: 0-1

Ref: Calum Scott.

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