Peterhead 2 Airdrie United 4: report

Apr 2 2011 By Colin Paterson

Airdrie United

IRN-BRU SECOND DIVISION:

PETERHEAD 2 AIRDRIE 4

AIRDRIE moved to within two points of a promotion play-off place after a first-half goal blitz.

Jimmy Boyle's men netted three times in a dozen minutes at Balmoor Stadium on Saturday as they made it five wins in eight games.

The Diamonds are now just two points behind fourth-placed Forfar Athletic who drew 1-1 at home to Stenhousemuir.

A gap of ten points now exists to Stenny in ninth place. Both Airdrie and the Warriors have six matches left to play.

All fans were allowed into Balmoor for free after securing sponsorship from 28 local businesses.

However, the home contingent were silenced in the fourth minute when Blue Toon defender Neil McVitie turned a Graeme Owens cross into his own net.

Airdrie held their lead until the 22nd minute when the hosts levelled. A long ball forward found on-loan striker Paul Tosh who fired a shot past keeper Mark Ridgers.

But Boyle's men rallied and stormed into a 4-1 half-time lead to leave new Peterhead boss John Sheran red-faced on the touchline.

A good break led to Ryan Donnelly playing in winger Phil Johnston who cut inside and finished with aplomb.

Airdrie netted a third goal in the 32nd minute when full-back Jamie Bain beat goalie Paul Jarvie from the edge of the box.

And it was 3-1 four minutes before the break with good work from Johnston and Owens resulting in the ball falling to Scott Gemmill who struck his 12th goal of the season.

Peterhead were lying flat out on the canvas with Tosh's second goal of the afternoon in the 66th minute merely a consolation as they slipped eight points adrift of safety.

Peterhead: Jarvie; Donald, Mann, McDonald, Smith; Strachan, Emslie, McVitie, Sharp; Wyness, Tosh.

Substitutes: Stephens, Gethans, Clark, Ross, Bateman(gk).

Airdrie: Ridgers; Bain, Stallard, Devlin, Smith; Johnston, McCord, Owens, MacKay-Steven; Gemmill, Donnelly.

Substitutes: Grant, Stevenson, Blockley, Morton, Szpilczynski(gk).

Referee: Neil Watters.