Battling Airdrie grab point from Dundee

Aug 29 2009 by Colin Paterson

AIRDRIE UNITED 1 DUNDEE 1

GUTSY Airdrie produced an excellent performance to claim a richly-deserved point.

The First Division championship contenders from Tayside had taken the lead through Colin McMenamin but a Jim Lauchlan own goal drew the determined Diamonds level.

New Broomfield boss Kenny Black made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Dunfermline Athletic last Saturday.

Trialist Tom Parratt was handed a start in defence in place of Paul Lovering with Kevin Watt and Scott Gemmill coming in for Alan Trouten and John Baird.

Dundee began the match as red-hot favourites and they served notice of their intentions as early as the first minute when McMenamin blasted a shot just wide.

The Diamonds took a while to get going but should have opened the scoring in the 25th minute. A counter-attacking move saw the hosts sweep forward with Dundee's defence short on numbers.

Watt's cross was missed completely by Frankie Lagana with Scott McLaughlin's follow-up failing to trouble keeper Tony Bullock.

The Dark Blues masses were getting restless but their nerves were eased in the 36th minute when McMenamin pounced on Kevin McDonald's slackness and fired a powerful shot past Stephen Robertson.

However, Airdrie stuck to their task and equalised just six minutes later. Darren Smith's superb run and cross to the near post caused chaos with the unfortunate Lauchlan guiding the ball into his own net.

Robertson was then called into action in the 64th minute. Simon Storey misjudged the bounce of a long ball forward but Leigh Griffiths' fierce strike was well blocked by the Airdrie keeper.

The home side gave Dundee a scare with a minute left after Bullock fumbled a Smith daisy-cutter.

And in stoppage-time Australian midfielder Lagana curled a shot just wide as Airdrie rounded off a good performance in spirited fashion.

Airdrie: Robertson; Parratt (Lovering 49), Smyth, Donnelly, Storey; Smith, McDonald, McLaughlin, Lagana; Watt (Baird 75), Gemmill (Keegan 75). Subs not used: Trouten, Hollis(gk).

Booked: Storey, McDonald.

Dundee: Bullock; Paton, Lauchlan, Benedictus, Malone; McHale, Cameron (Hart 68), Kerr, Harkins; Griffiths (Higgins 76), McMenamin. Subs not used: MacKenzie, Forsyth, Geddes(gk).

Referee: Steven Nicholls.

Attendance: 1516.