Match Report

Ian Russell returned to his home town  Annan and he almost stole the show with a superb hat trick but Annan had the final say when one of the trilalists scored an absolute stunning 83rd minute goal to reduce the lea-way in an excellent workout for both teams on a dreadful windy wet day which tested the players ability to the full.

The first half was goalless with the full time team enjoying the majority of possession but rarely troubling Blair Currie in goal. Max Wright was first on target for the home team when he tested keeper Rohan Ferguson with a 20 yard crisp low shot in the 5th minute. Ryan Conroy’s free kick from 18 yards was confidently saved by Currie in the 12th minute. Swinglehurst came close from a corner in the 16th minute when his effort was headed off the goal line by McIntosh. Adam brown blasted over the bar following a corner kick in the 21st min. Ryan Conroy was presented with an opportunity when Airdrieonians were awarded a free kick dead centre of the goals but the poor effort sailed over the bar.

Annan brought on all their eight substitues for the second half and the game bounced to life when Annan’s trialist opened the scoring on the 67th minute with a low strike form 18 yards which ripped into the bottom corner of the net past the diving Kerr. Annan’s lead lasted 1 minute when Russell connected with a cross swung in from the right to finish with a shot from 12 yards which went into the net via the underside of the bar. Russell then doubled his account 4 minutes later when his well directed header floated into the top corner of the net over the outstretched arms of Mitchell.

Russel then completed his hat trick in the 80th minute when one of Annan’s trialist attempted back header to keeper Alex Mitchell turned out to be a perfect pass into Russell who picked his spot with a low shot into the corner of the net.

Annan had the final say when they broke swiftly from defence in the 83rd minute with the trialist picking the ball up on the centre of the park jinking past a couple of challenges and finishing with an absolute screamer into the top corner of the net from 20 yards

Annan Athletic – B Currie, S Black, Trialist, J G Lucas, S Swinglehurst, R Krissian, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, M Wright, Trialist. Subs all used at HT A Mitchell, R Omar, B Cuddihy, L Park, P Dachnowicz, S Norman, Trialist, Trialist.

Annan Goals – Trialist ( 67, 83 )

Airdrieonians – R Ferguson, S Stewart, S McIntosh, J Gorman, K MacDonald, R Conroy, A Brown, M Fitzpatrick, A Ryan, J Daly, I Russell ; Substitutes – M Kerr GK, J Higgins, C McLauchlin, C Reilly

Airdrieonian Goals- Russell ( 68, 72, 80 )

Referee – S Miller Assistants J Lawson and Paul O,Neill.

Crowd 303

Annan continue their build up to the new season on Tuesday evening when they entertain Queen of the South kick off 7-45pm.

The Betfred Cup kicks off next Saturday when Stranraer visit Galabank followed by the match at Ibrox against Rangers on Tuesday evening then Motherwell visit Galabank on Saturday 23rd July, both the Rangers game and the Motherwell game are all ticket. Details on how to get tickets will be available soon.